Leonid Sologoub (also known as Sologub or Sologaub) was born in the Russian town of Yeysk, on April 16th 1884. He studied at the traditional academy of art in St. Petersburg and after winning an important prize, was awarded a grant to study in Italy. Upon his return to St. Petersburg in 1910, Sologaub immerses himself within the avant-garde art scene. In 1913, his friend and famed avant-gardist Larianov publishes the ‘Rayonism’ manifest, outlining the foundations of abstract art. Sologoub himself translates these theories into monumental installations. During world war I, he volunteers to join and donate all of his possessions to the Russian army, spending his time creating artworks on the frontline. When the Russian revolution breaks out, Sologoub travels to China and Japan, moving on to Constantinopel and then Italy, organizing exhibitions along the way. In 1921, he ends up participating in the famous Salon d’Automne in Paris. Whilst a lot of Russian artists chose to remain in Paris during the revolution years, Sologoub continues on to the Netherlands and settles in the Hague to join the studio of Philippe Zilcken. “Neighbour” Prince Hendrik would visit the studio on a regular basis and Queen Juliana bought several of his drawings for her archives. Sologoub becomes a member of the Hague art societies such as the Haagse Kunstkring, where he meets Mondriaan and Isaac Israels who had a significant influence on his own works. One of his most important achievements is the 1924 exhibition featuring works by Russian Avant Gardists staying in Paris, among which Larionov. Sologoub continues to organize exhibitions of contemporary artists, eventually passing away in the Hague in 1956.
