SONIA DELAUNAY 1885-1979

Sonia Delaunay (1885-1979) was a visionary artist and a key figure in modern art, whose works are available at HELENE BAILLY gallery. A pioneer of geometric abstraction, she revolutionized painting, textiles, and design by integrating bold colors and dynamic patterns into all her creations.

For her, there were no boundaries between fine arts and applied arts, as she famously stated:

"For me, there is no difference between my painting and my so-called decorative work. I have never considered the applied arts artistically frustrating; on the contrary, they are an extension of my art."

Born Sara Elievna Stern in Ukraine, she studied drawing at the Karlsruhe Academy of Fine Arts in 1904, before moving to Paris in 1906, where she was exposed to the avant-garde movements. In 1907, she participated in a group exhibition organized by art dealer Wilhelm Uhde at Galerie Notre-Dame-des-Champs, alongside Braque, Picasso, Derain, Dufy, Metzinger, and Pascin, establishing her presence in the modern art scene.

That same year, Sonia Delaunay was an artist who met Robert Delaunay, whom she married in 1910. Together, they developed a groundbreaking artistic language, blending Cubism and Futurism, which Guillaume Apollinaire named "Orphism." Through her constant experimentation, she broke down barriers between disciplines, incorporating her abstract aesthetic into textiles, fashion, and interior design, creating a timeless and avant-garde style.

Thanks to her immense talent and major influence on 20th-century art and design, Sonia Delaunay became the first living female artist to receive a retrospective at the Louvre in 1964. In 1976, she donated her entire graphic work to the Centre Pompidou, securing her place in art history. She passed away in Paris on December 5, 1979, at the age of 94, leaving behind an immeasurable artistic legacy that continues to inspire contemporary artists and designers.