Archipenko << `ahr` kuh PEHNG koh >>, Alexander (1887-1964), was a pioneer Cubist sculptor. He was one of the first sculptors to show that spaces can be as important to a work as the solids. This view was a basic element in Archipenko’s style throughout his career. His use of solids and hollows influenced many modern sculptors. Archipenko’s forms are concave (curving inward) and convex (curving outward) with angular shapes and openings. Typical examples include Seated Woman (1916) and Dual (1955). He was also one of the first artists to adapt the new technique of collage to sculpture, mixing a wide variety of materials (see Collage).
Archipenko was born on May 30, 1887, in Kyiv, Ukraine, which was then part of the Russian Empire. He moved to the United States in 1923 and became a citizen in 1928. He founded art schools in Europe and America, and taught at several U.S. universities. He died on Feb. 25, 1964.
See also Cubism.
