Composition 16, Circa 1955

Alfred Lenica  

Alfred Lenica, born in 1899 in Poznań, Poland, is a major figure in abstract art and European Surrealism. Trained at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, he settled in France in 1925, where he joined avant-garde artistic circles. Close to the Dada and Surrealist movements, he initially explored figurative painting before turning to lyrical abstraction in the 1930s.

His style, marked by organic forms, vibrant colors and expressive gestures, is part of the School of Paris movement. He actively participated in the exhibitions of the Salon des Surindépendants and the Salon d'Automne, alongside artists such as Wassily Kandinsky and Hans Hartung.

In the 1950s, Lenica developed a more geometric approach, influenced by Tachisme and Art Informel. His works, often described as poetic, blend rhythm, light, and matter, reflecting a spiritual quest and a fascination with the unconscious.

He collaborated with poets and writers, illustrating books for André Breton and Paul Éluard. His work was also marked by experiments with ceramics and tapestry.

Recognized for his contribution to modern art, Lenica received the National Arts Prize in 1963. His canvases, such as (1958), embody a dynamic harmony between structure and emotion.

He died in 1977 in Paris, leaving behind a prolific body of work exhibited in museums such as the Centre Pompidou and the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw. Today, he is celebrated for his unique visual language, a blend of lyricism and formal rigor.