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.

He 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, David earned the nickname "artist," and it was there that Burliuk's 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.

In the mid-1900s, Burliuk’s artistic 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, David Burliuk 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.

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, Burliuk remained true to his aesthetic preferences, though his 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 passed away in 1967.