2. Artists & stock
3. Jean Pougny
4. Biography

Notes of biography

Ivan Albertovitch Puni, known as Jean Pougny, was born in Kuokkala in 1894 in the province of St-Petersburg (present day Finland). He obtains an academic training; his parents hoped he would choose a military career. In 1909 he decides to devote himself to painting. A year later, he takes his first trip to Paris where he works in different art academies; the young man discovers fauvism, cubism and Japanese art.
In 1912, returning from St. Petersburg, Puni participates in several group exhibitions with Exter, Bourliouk, Gontcharova, Tatline and Malévitch. His studio becomes a meeting place for the avant-garde. At the time of his second trip to Paris in 1914, Ivan Puni exhibits at the Salon des Indépendents. Figurehead of the Russian avant-garde, he organizes the first futurist exhibitions where he exhibits with his friends.
Immediately after the war, he goes to Vitebsk with an invitation from Marc Chagall to teach in his Academy. With the political situation he is obliged to flee his country and he finds refuge in Berlin with his wife (the artist Xana Bogouslavskaya who he marries in 1913). In 1921, Ivan Puni exhibits at the Der Sturm Gallery in Berlin. He participates in several group exhibitions that take place in Germany at the beginning of the 20’s creating costume and theatre set designs and giving conferences.
In 1924, Puni moves to Paris and changes his name to Jean Pougny. His style changes and quickly there is nothing left of his cubo-futurism or supermatism of his years in Russia. He paints in the fashion of the Nabis (landscapes, interiors scenes, scenes of Parisian life) all in remaining completely original. He becomes friends with Fernand Léger, Marcoussis, Amédée Ozenfant. The most unexpected objects become subjects of a pure painting of which the text take singular importance.
From 1925-1933, a large number of collective exhibitions and solo exhibitions are held in numerous Parisian salons. His exhibition at the Jeanne Castel Gallery will finally bring him success. Until the war the artist will participate in many group events in France and abroad. He now becomes part of the pictorial French scene.
The couple takes refuge in the French Riviera during the war. He takes French nationality immediately after the war.
In 1956 Jean Pougny will benefit from several solo exhibitions in Paris, New York, London, etc. and participates in many collective exhibitions in France, Italy, Denmark, Holland, Denmark, etc.

“In principle the artist poses the supremacy of pure sentiment that he finds equivalent in pure form, free of all symbolic or rational significance.” - Kasimir Malevitch

• Back to the works ARTIST ALARM

  You want to be alarmed for any new work by this artist ? Enter your email address to get an alarm

  * Your phone number allows us to stay in touch in case our answer goes to your spam folder !

  I have read and accept the website mchampetier.com's Confidentiality and personal data protection charter.

  
  Alarm me