Pierre Alechinsky

1927 -

Belgian (Brussels, Belgium -)

Pierre Alechinsky, born in Brussels in 1927, is a painter, draughtsman, printmaker and filmmaker. He studied book illustration and typography and in 1949 became a founder-member of the CoBrA movement after meeting Christian Dotremont,. This short-lived movement celebrated formal freedom and disdain for Surrealism. Towards the end of 1951 Alechinsky went to Paris, moving to Japan in 1955 to study the art of calligraphy, also making a film called Calligraphie japonaise (1956). In the 1950s he began to study prints with Stanley William Hayera at the Studio 17 learning etching and engraving. In 1954 he had his first exhibition in Paris and started to become interested in oriental calligraphy. Alechinsky befriended Giacometti, Bram van Veld, Victor Brauner and Wallace Ting. This original print is from the famous “1 Cent Life” book/portfolio, published in 1964 by E. W. Kornfeld which also included the Robert Rauchenberg and Robert Indiana pieces on display. This was a revolutionary Pop Art and poetry project organized by Wallace Ting (his poetry is featured in the print) and the artist Sam Francis. Among other artists that contributed to the project were Andy Warhol, Robert Indiana, Roy Lichtenstein, Pierre Alechinsky, Asger Jorn, Mel Ramos, Jim Dine, Tom Wesselmann, Claes Oldenburg, Karel Appel, Antonio Saura, James Rosenquist, Alan Davie, and Sam Francis."