Suprematism

Posted on by The Wandering Art Historian

Last month (which seems like an eternity ago), I gave a lecture on The Russian Avant Garde at SoBo Gallery in Winter Garden, FL.  One of the things we discussed was Kazimir Malevich and his Suprematist paintings.  During the early years of the 20th century, Malevich dedicated himself to the idea that art should not only be abstract, but that it should be reduced to simple geometric shapes, his favorite being the square.  He believed a reductive process was the only way for an artwork to inspire a genuine emotional response in the viewer.  Interestingly enough, his theories pre-date Piet Mondrian’s exploration of the De Stijl aesthetic!

While you might think the paintings attached to this post are examples of Suprematism, you would only be half right.  These paintings are actually my attempt at creating Suprematist paintings in the style of Malevich.  Painting in the style of an artist one is studying academically is an incredibly insightful way to learn more about that artist’s creative process and mindset.

For more information on Kazimir Malevich, check out this quick video from the Tate…

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I am writer and artist with a degree in art history who loves to talk to people about art. I have spent the last seven years building up The Wandering Art Historian “brand” as a way to connect with people who want to learn more about art. I give lectures and presentations and teach classes and host book club discussions with a creative or artistic connection. I also write about local artists, events, museums, and exhibitions to promote the arts in Central Florida. In 2021, I had a creative crisis. I struggled with authenticity in the art making process. I decided to make myself vulnerable and find out what a real, genuine Adrienne H. Lee artwork would look like. The process was challenging and emotional and revelatory. I learned that if necessity is the mother of invention, then authenticity is the mother of reinvention. I reinvented myself and learned an entirely new medium. The resulting artwork surprised me, and it will surprise you, too. Some people wish for a fairytale ending. For me, the fairy tale is only the beginning.