Serge Poliakoff Russian-French, 1900-1969

Serge Poliakoff was a Russian-born French painter and one of the major representatives of post-war European abstraction. Born in Moscow, he left Russia after the Revolution and travelled extensively through Europe before settling in Paris. Initially trained in music, he eventually devoted himself entirely to painting and became immersed in the artistic environment of the French capital. His encounters with Cubism and the work of Wassily Kandinsky and Robert Delaunay had a profound influence on his development. Poliakoff gradually abandoned figurative representation in favour of compositions built from interlocking areas of colour. His paintings are characterised by irregular geometric forms, subtle tonal relationships and a remarkable sense of balance. Rather than relying on conventional perspective, he created depth through the interaction of colour and shape. His mature work became increasingly reduced and contemplative, establishing a highly personal form of lyrical abstraction. Poliakoff exhibited extensively in Europe and became an important figure within the École de Paris. His work remains celebrated for its quiet intensity and sophisticated approach to colour.