Serge Poliakoff

1900, Moskau1969, Paris

Inspired by Wassily Kandinsky's reflections on music, including his publication "Über das Geistige in der Kunst" (1911), as well as by Sonia and Robert Delaunay's colour-theoretical works, Serge Poliakoff developed his own style in which clearly defined geometric colour forms create a kind of mosaic. His works, that are often titled "Composition Abstraite", have no relation to the world and completely dispense with a perspective depth effect. Rather, the individual colour fields strive forwards or backwards, depending on the intensity and characteristics of the colours and their arrangement within the composition. Poliakoff achieves a special depth of the individual colour fields through a multi-layered application of colour and the admixture of pure pigments, which allow the viewer to deepen contemplatively into these atmospheric works. His ouevre was honoured early on at documenta II (1959) and documenta III (1964), as well as at the Venice Biennale (1962).

Selected Artworks
Selected Exhibitions
Publications