Varvara Stepanova

Born 1894 in Kovno (now Kaunas, Lithuania). 1910-11 (ca) studies at the Kazan School of Art where she meets Rodchenko whom she subsequently marries. 1912 moves to Moscow, attends the Stroganov School (1913-14) and studies with Konstantin Yuon and Ilya Mashkov. 1919 becomes involved with the Futurist poets, composing zaum' ('transrational') poetry herself and producing collaged and handwritten books, including Rtny Khomle, Zigra ar and her masterpiece Gaust Chaba (all 1918), in which she wrote her zaum' text on newspaper. After the Revolution she works in the Museums office of the Department of Fine Arts (IZO) in Narkompros (the People's Commissariat for Enlightenment) and from c. 1921 teaches at the Academy of Social Education. Died 1958 in Moscow.