Wassily Kandinsky

Russian/French, 1866-1944

Wassily Kandinsky was a Russian-born artist widely regarded as the developer of abstract art in the West. Born in Moscow and originally trained in law and economics at the University of Moscow, Kandinsky did not formally pursue painting until his thirties—a shift that would leave a lasting mark on modern art. 

He studied in Munich, where he became closely associated with the German Expressionist movement, co-founding the influential group Der Blaue Reiter. His work broke from traditional representation, using color, line, and form as autonomous expressive elements. This exploration helped lay the groundwork for abstract expressionism and reshaped the language of 20th-century painting. 

In 1933, Kandinsky moved to Neuilly-sur-Seine, a town outside Paris, and spent his remaining years in France. Kandinsky's legacy endures in his belief that art could communicate spiritual and emotional truths beyond the visible world. His contributions continue to influence generations of artists and are central to major public collections worldwide.