City at Night, 1919

Alexandra Ekster or Exter (Александра Экстер) (January 6, 1882-March 17, 1949) was a painter, designer, and one of the founders of Art Deco. Exter was born in Belostok, Imperial Russia (now Poland) in the wealthy family of A. A. Grigorovich. She studied at Kiev art school, then in 1907 attended Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Montparnasse, Paris. In 1908-1924 she intermittently lived in Kiev, Peterburg, Odessa, and Moscow. In 1915 she worked with Kazimir Malevich. In 1924 she emigrated to France, where she died.