Lyubov Popova

A pioneering Russian avant-garde artist and designer who revolutionized modernist art and industrial design.

Lyubov Popova (1889–1924) was a trailblazer in the Russian avant-garde movement, whose innovative work in Constructivism and Suprematism reshaped 20th-century art. Rejecting traditional painting, she embraced geometric abstraction and industrial design, creating dynamic compositions like Painterly Architectonic (1916–1917).

Popova co-founded the Constructivist movement, advocating for art as a social tool. She designed textiles, theater sets, and propaganda posters during the Soviet era, blending aesthetics with utility. Her radical shift from canvas to factory production—declaring 'Death to Art!'—inspired modern design principles.

Though her career was cut short by scarlet fever at 35, Popova's influence persists in exhibitions like the 2021 Revolutionary Women at the Tate Modern. Explore her work at MoMA.