David Burlyuk
/1882-1967/
David Burlyuk, hailing from Ukraine, was a polymath encompassing poetry and artistry. He ventured into painting, graphic art, publishing, and championed the cause of new art as a theorist and advocate. Revered as a pioneer of the avant-garde, he holds the moniker of the "father of Russian futurism." His groundbreaking futurist manifesto, titled "A Slap in the Face to Public Taste," audaciously called for the dismissal of classical art from the modern cultural landscape. Notably, he shared familial ties with the esteemed artist Vladimir Burlyuk and the poet Nikolai Burlyuk.
Burlyuk's artistic journey commenced in art schools in Kazan and Odessa, before he sought education at the Royal Academy of Arts in Munich. Subsequently, he honed his skills under the guidance of Fernand Cormon in Paris. He played a pivotal role in the inception of the Jack of Diamonds art Society, a group that rejected academic and realist traditions while embracing post-Impressionism, Fauvism, and Cubism.
Upon his return to Russia, David Burlyuk aligned with the leftist artists, emerging as a leading figure in the literary and artistic avant-garde. Alongside Vladimir Mayakovsky, he imparted knowledge at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture from 1911 to 1914. He ardently advocated for futurist principles in poetry and championed Cubism in the realm of painting.
In 1920, Burlyuk embarked on an exhibition journey to Japan with a cohort of Russian artists, finding inspiration in Japanese motifs for numerous of his creations. By 1922, he had relocated to the United States, setting up residence in New York, where he actively engaged in the cultural tapestry of the Russian emigrant community. He, alongside his wife Maria Burlyuk, established a publishing house and launched the magazine "Color & Rhyme." In 1941, he founded an artistic collective in Hampton Bays on Long Island.
Throughout the 1960s, Burlyuk remained a fervent creator and intrepid traveler, exploring countries like Australia, the Czech Republic, and Italy. Despite repeated overtures to publish his works in the USSR, he never saw it come to fruition.
David Burlyuk's passing transpired on January 15, 1967, in Hampton Bays, New York. As per his wishes, his ashes were scattered across the expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. Burlyuk's indelible impact on the evolution of modern art solidifies his position as a vital figure within the realm of futurism.