David Burliuk was a Ukrainian futurist artist, poet, art theorist, literary and art critic, and publisher. He was one of the leading creators of Ukrainian modernism in the early 20th century and is known as a leader of Futurism.

Summary of David Burliuk

During his lifetime, the artist established a prominent reputation in Japan and the USA, becoming a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Today, Burliuk’s paintings are featured in the collections of some of the world’s most renowned museums, including the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), the Whitney Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum in Madrid, and many others.

Biography of David Burliuk

The artist was born in 1882 in Kharkiv Governorate. In childhood, David lost one of his eyes, which was replaced by a glass prosthesis. This later became one of the elements of Burliuk's flamboyant style. He himself dated the beginning of his artistic career to 1890.

From 1893 to 1895, he studied at the Alexandrovskaya Men's Gymnasium in Sumy. His education was interrupted; shortly after enrolling in 1893, he was expelled due to illness and non-payment of tuition fees. He resumed his studies in 1894 until August 1895.

At the gymnasium, he earned the nickname "artist," and it was there that his talents were first recognized.

In 1898–1899, he studied at the Kazan Art School. From 1902 to 1903, he studied at Anton Ažbe's school in Munich and at the Academy of Fine Arts under Wilhelm von Diez, Franz von Stuck, and Сarl von Marr. In 1904, he continued his studies in Paris.

He initially embraced the revolutionary events of 1917 in Russia but ultimately could not settle in the new Bolshevik regime. He first emigrated to Japan and later to the United States. Abroad, the artist remained true to his aesthetic preferences, though David Burliuk’s art began to reflect the dominant Western art trends. In 1962, he proposed to bring an exhibition of his works to Ukraine but was denied by the Soviet government. The artist’s death occurred in 1967.

David Burliuk’s Famous Paintings: A Journey Through Futurism and Modernism

In the early stages of his career, Burliuk's art blended Fauvist, Cubist, and Futurist styles, influenced by his fascination with the forms and designs of Scythian culture. Some of his most celebrated works feature thickly painted, primitive-style portrayals of peasants.

Among Burliuk’s original paintings are many popular works, including “A horse-lightning” (1907), “Advent of spring and summer” (2014), “On the Seashore” (1921), “Portrait of Marussia Burliuk“ (1956), and many more. David Burliuk’s paintings for sale are available at auctions around the world. 

David Burliuk's Art Style 

The art of David Burliuk, which encompassed painting, poetry, drawing, and engraving, was inspired by the exploration of modernity. With bold typefaces, vibrant colors, and dynamic brushstrokes, he rejected traditional artistic conventions, embodying the principles of Futurism—dynamism, innovation, and revolution. Along with his Futurist peers, Burliuk urged audiences to challenge conventional notions of aesthetics and beauty, aiming to shape a new, more progressive world.

In the mid-1900s, Burliuk’s art style, in his own words, was characterized by "desperate realism." However, by 1907, his work began to evolve from realism towards impressionism and, partially, futurism in landscapes. After exploring impressionism, neo-primitivism, and other modern art movements, the artist became an ideologist of Soviet futurism, both in painting and literature. He actively participated in futurist performances, combining the roles of theorist, poet, artist, and critic.