SOPHIE
TAEUBER-ARP

Sophie Taeuber-Arp, born on January 19, 1889, in Davos, Switzerland, was a pioneering artist known for her innovative work in textiles, interior design, and abstract art. Throughout her life, she was deeply engaged with the art world and its leading figures, forging close connections with other artists, critics, and historians. She passed away on January 13, 1949, in Zurich, Switzerland, due to accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.

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Taeuber-Arp's artistic education began in 1904 at the Stauffacher-Schule in St. Gallen, where she focused on drawing and design. Over the years, she attended various art institutions in Switzerland and Germany, including the Drawing School for Industry and Trade in St. Gallen, the Teaching and Experimental Ateliers for Applied and Fine Arts in Munich, and the School of Applied Arts in Hamburg. She also studied at the Rudolf von Laban International School of Dance from 1915 to 1918.

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Throughout her life, Taeuber-Arp was associated with various artistic movements and groups, including the Swiss Werkbund, Cercle et Carre, Abstraction-Creation, and Allianz. She was also affiliated with the Dadaists, who played a significant role in shaping her artistic practice.

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Taeuber-Arp was already an established artist by the 1930s, participating in numerous group exhibitions in Switzerland, Germany, and other European countries. In 1936, she took part in the Fantastic Art, Dada, Surrealism exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, curated by Alfred Barr Jr.

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At the onset of World War II, Taeuber-Arp was living in Paris. As the war escalated, she fled to southern France before eventually settling in Switzerland. Throughout her life, she maintained close relationships with fellow artists such as Sonia Delaunay, Nelly Van Doesburg, and Alberto Magnelli.

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Taeuber-Arp's work can be found in various archives, including the Foundazione Marguerite Arp in Switzerland and the International Dada Archive at the University of Iowa. One of her key artworks, "Composition" (1938), was featured in the Exhibition by 31 Women.

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Throughout her career, Taeuber-Arp collaborated with her husband, Jean (Hans) Arp, whom she married on October 20, 1922. In addition to their joint artistic projects, the couple also worked together on poetry and other creative endeavors.

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Sophie Taeuber-Arp's legacy as an influential artist endures through her pioneering work in various fields and her commitment to artistic exploration and innovation.