Esphyr Slobodkina
Esphyr Slobodkina
American, born Russia, 1908–2002
Birth placeRussia
BiographyEsphyr Slobodkina (the name is pronounced ess-FEER sloh-BOD-kee-nah) was born in the Siberian town of Chelyabinsk on Sept. 22, 1908. Esphyr immigrated to the United States on a student visa at the age of 29. She enrolled at the National Academy of Design, NYC, and in the 1930s, she worked painting lamp shades and soon after murals for the WPA. Esphyr was a founding member of the American Abstract Artists, which began amid controversy in 1936.
Person TypePerson
American, 1900–1971
American, born Russia, 1899–1987
