Kazimir Severinovich Malevich (Russian: Казимир Северинович Малевич, Polish: Kazimierz Malewicz, Ukrainian Казимир Северинович Малевич [kazɪˈmɪr sɛʋɛˈrɪnoʋɪtʃ mɑˈlɛʋɪtʃ], German: Kasimir Malewitsch), (February 23, 1878 – May 15, 1935) was a painter an art theoretician, pioneer of geometric abstract art and one of the most important members of the Russian avant-garde and Suprematist movement.