The Ukrainian sculptor and teacher Alexander Archipenko (1887-1964) was an innovator in translating the elements of cubist painting into sculptural form.

Alexander Archipenko was born in the Ukrainian city of Kiev. His father was professor of engineering at the University of Kiev, and his grandfather painted murals for churches. From 1902 to 1905 young Archipenko studied at the art school in his hometown. He was expelled for his rebellious nature: he had criticized his instructors for being too conservative. After working and exhibiting in Moscow for 2 years, he left for Paris at the age of 20 and entered the École des Beaux-Arts. Archipenko stayed there for only 2 weeks, as he found it more profitable to work on his own and to learn from other artists. He set up a studio near Fernand Léger's and through him came to know Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. Archipenko shared with them...