Olga Rozanova

Olga Rozanova was a member of many of the most important art groupings and movements in early 20th century Russia, while the development of her work across the 1910s represents in microcosm the evolution of the Russian avant-garde over the same period. In this sense, she is as significant as an exemplary artist of her era. But in many ways, Rozanova was also an exceptional figure, not just as one of few women attached to movements such as Cubo-Futurism and Suprematism, but in bringing her individual theories of spiritual energy and color interaction to bear on those movements, resulting in a unique and emotionally dynamic body of work. Had she not died of diphtheria in 1918 at the age of just 32, she might well be placed alongside Kazimir Malevich as one of the pioneers of 20th century abstract painting. (The Art Story)