Francis Picabia

Francis Picabia (1879–1953) was a French painter, poet, and one of the leading figures of the avant-garde, associated with the Dada movement. Known for his stylistic versatility and “shape-shifting” or “kaleidoscopic” work, Picabia moved between Impressionism, Cubism, Dada, and various forms of abstraction throughout his career. In the later years of his life he lived primarily in Paris, where he remained an influential presence within the avant-garde. During his years in Paris, Ellsworth Kelly visited Picabia’s studio and met the artist.