Swiss-Austrian architect and educator, designed the Federal Palace of Switzerland
Swiss-Austrian architect and educator
designed the Federal Palace of Switzerland
Swiss-Austrian architect celebrated for designing the Federal Palace in Bern, the seat of the Swiss federal government.
Born in 1847 in Switzerland, Hans Auer studied architecture in Vienna before establishing his practice in Bern. He won the competition to design the Federal Palace, constructed between 1894 and 1902, which became an architectural symbol of Swiss federal unity. Auer also taught at the Bern Academy of Arts, influencing a generation of architects. His work blended classical motifs with modern engineering techniques. He died in 1906, remembered as a key figure in Swiss architectural history.
1906
Hans Auer
Federal Palace of Switzerland
Turkish painter and educator
Turkish painter and educator
Turkish painter and educator celebrated for bringing Impressionist techniques to early Republican art.
Namık İsmail was born in 1890 in Turkey and studied art in Paris, absorbing Impressionist and Post-Impressionist techniques.
Upon returning home, he became a professor at the State Academy of Fine Arts and influenced a generation of Turkish artists.
His works often depict Anatolian landscapes and daily life, rendered with bold colors and expressive brushwork.
İsmail exhibited widely, contributing to the formation of a national art identity in the early Turkish Republic.
He mentored young painters and helped modernize art education before his death in 1935.
His legacy endures in Turkey's artistic heritage.
Namık İsmail
Estonian director and cinematographer
Estonian director and cinematographer
Estonian film director and pioneering cinematographer.
Born in 1896 in Tallinn, Konstantin Märska was a pioneer of Estonian cinema's early years.
He studied photography and brought technical expertise to the film sets of post-World War I Estonia.
As a director and cinematographer, Märska produced newsreels and documentaries documenting national life.
His work helped establish a visual archive of Estonia's culture, landscapes, and social changes.
Märska's innovative camera techniques influenced a generation of Baltic filmmakers.
He remains celebrated for laying the technical and artistic foundations of Estonian film.
1951
Konstantin Märska
American painter, illustrator, and academic
American painter
illustrator
and academic
Influential American abstract painter and educator, renowned for his minimalist approach and 'black' paintings.
Born in Buffalo, New York in 1913, Ad Reinhardt studied at Columbia University and the Art Students League before emerging as a pioneer of pure abstraction. He developed his signature 'black' paintings in the 1960s, exploring subtle variations in tone and form to challenge traditional notions of color. Reinhardt taught at the Brooklyn Museum Art School and Hunter College, mentoring a generation of artists and promoting artistic rigor. As an illustrator and critic, he wrote essays that questioned commercialism in art and advocated for artistic integrity. Reinhardt continued to refine his minimalist philosophy until his death in 1967, shaping the course of contemporary art.
1967
Ad Reinhardt
Iranian-Turkish sculptor
Iranian-Turkish sculptor
Iranian-Turkish sculptor considered a pioneer of modernist sculpture in Turkey.
Born in 1906, Ali Hadi Bara studied sculpture at the Istanbul Academy of Fine Arts before furthering his education in Paris. He introduced modernist principles to Turkish sculpture, blending abstract and figurative forms with Anatolian motifs. Bara taught at his alma mater, mentoring a generation of Turkish sculptors and shaping the country's artistic direction. His public monuments and gallery works in bronze and marble displayed technical mastery and innovative design. Through his teaching and exhibitions, he bridged Eastern traditions and Western avant-garde practices. Bara continued to influence the art world until his death in 1971, leaving a transformative legacy.
1971
Ali Hadi Bara
Czech bass player
Czech bass player
Vladimír Padrůněk was a Czech bassist known for his work with influential rock and jazz fusion bands in the 1970s and 1980s.
Born in Prague in 1952, Padrůněk first gained recognition as the bass player for the progressive rock band Blue Effect.
He later joined the jazz-rock fusion group Jazz Q, contributing to albums that blended intricate rhythms with improvisation.
Padrůněk was admired for his melodic playing style and technical proficiency on the bass guitar.
Beyond performance, he collaborated with various Czech musicians and explored experimental music projects.
Despite political pressures in communist Czechoslovakia, he remained a vital force in the underground music scene.
He died on August 30, 1991, leaving a legacy as one of his country's most respected bassists.
Vladimír Padrůněk
Swiss painter and sculptor
Swiss painter and sculptor
Jean Tinguely was a Swiss sculptor and painter renowned for his kinetic art sculptures that explored movement and mechanics.
Born in Fribourg, Switzerland, in 1925, Tinguely studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Basel.
He became a leading figure in the Nouveau Réalisme movement, creating machines that produced art through motion.
His iconic works, such as the Méta-Matic series, challenged traditional concepts of sculpture and authorship.
Tinguely often collaborated with other avant-garde artists, blending engineering and artistic expression.
His large-scale public installations attracted global attention for their playful yet thought-provoking mechanics.
Throughout his career, he exhibited in major museums and international biennales.
Tinguely died on August 30, 1991, remembered for transforming static art into dynamic experiences.
Jean Tinguely
English director and screenwriter
English director and screenwriter
Lindsay Anderson was an English film director and screenwriter celebrated for his contributions to the British New Wave cinema.
Born in 1923 in Bangalore, India, Anderson was educated at Oxford University before turning to film criticism and direction.
He co-founded the influential periodical 'Sequence' and later became a prominent voice in film journals.
Anderson's debut feature film, 'This Sporting Life' (1963), was critically acclaimed for its raw portrayal of working-class struggle.
He directed the celebrated film 'If....' (1968), which won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
Throughout his career, he blended social commentary with experimental techniques, challenging cinematic conventions.
Anderson also taught film at institutions such as the National Film School in London.
He died on August 30, 1994, remembered as a pioneer of modern British cinema.
1994
Lindsay Anderson
American guitarist and singer
American guitarist and singer
Sterling Morrison was an American guitarist and singer, best known as an original member of The Velvet Underground.
Born in 1942 in East Meadow, New York, Morrison co-founded The Velvet Underground in 1964 with Lou Reed and John Cale.
As the band's guitarist, he helped shape their pioneering sound that blended rock, avant-garde, and experimental music.
Morrison contributed to seminal albums such as The Velvet Underground & Nico and White Light/White Heat.
After the band's initial run, he pursued studies in medieval literature and worked as a tugboat captain in Texas.
In the 1990s, he reunited with The Velvet Underground for reunion tours and managed the band's archival affairs.
Morrison died on August 30, 1995, remembered for his understated guitar work and influence on alternative rock.
Sterling Morrison
French illustrator
French illustrator
Raymond Poïvet was a French illustrator recognized for his imaginative visual storytelling.
Raymond Poïvet (1910-1999) was a celebrated French illustrator whose work brought stories to life through vivid imagery. Born in 1910, he developed a distinctive style characterized by dynamic composition and attention to detail. Throughout his career, Poïvet provided illustrations for publications and editorial pieces, captivating audiences with his creative vision. His artwork often explored imaginative and evocative themes, making him a respected figure in the European illustration community. He passed away in 1999, leaving behind a legacy of visual storytelling that continues to inspire artists today.
Raymond Poïvet
French director and screenwriter
French director and screenwriter
French film director and screenwriter acclaimed for his psychological thrillers and collaborations with renowned actors.
Alain Corneau was born in 1943 in Algeria when it was a French territory.
He began his career as an assistant to director Costa-Gavras before helming his own films.
Corneau achieved critical success with films like "Le choix des armes" and the music-themed drama "Tous les matins du monde".
His work was noted for its strong character studies, atmospheric pacing, and musical sensibility.
He directed adaptations of novels, and his collaborations with actors such as Yves Montand and John Berry garnered international attention.
Corneau died of a spinal tumor on August 30, 2010, leaving a legacy of thoughtful, artful filmmaking.
Alain Corneau
English-American director and producer
English-American director and producer
English-American film director and producer best known for his work on Westerns and television series.
Born in 1920 in London, Andrew V. McLaglen grew up immersed in the Western film tradition. He directed a string of popular Western films and television episodes, collaborating with stars like John Wayne and James Stewart. McLaglen’s disciplined style and reliable storytelling made him a go-to director for studios and actors alike. He also produced several television series, shaping the adventure dramas of mid-20th-century television. His contributions helped define the Western genre’s golden age in both cinema and TV. McLaglen continued working behind the camera until his passing on August 30, 2014, leaving behind a legacy of classic American entertainment.
Andrew V. McLaglen