Art, literature & historyProse on the Trans-Siberian Railway and of the Little Jehanne of France by Blaise Cendrars
Sonia Delaunay · 1913
Sonia Delaunay: 1885–1979
Other names (14)
Delaunay-Terk, Sarah Sophie Stern Terk, Sarah Stern, Sonia Delaunay- Ferk, Sonia Delaunay-Terk, Sonia Delaunay-Turk, Sonia Delone, Sonia Elievna Delaunay, Sonia Elievna- Terk, Sonia Stern, Sonia Terk, Sonja Terk, Sophie Delaunay-Terk, Sophie Stern
Biography
Sonia Delaunay (née Stern, French: [sɔnja dəlonɛ]; 14 November 1885 – 5 December 1979) was a French artist born to Jewish parents, who spent most of her working life in Paris. She was born in the Russian Empire, now Ukraine, and was formally trained in Russia and Germany, before moving to France and expanding her practice to include textile, fashion, and set design. She was part of the School of Paris and co-founded the Orphism art movement, noted for its use of strong colours and geometric shapes, with her husband Robert Delaunay and others.
She was the first living female artist to have a retrospective exhibition at the Louvre in 1964, and in 1975 was named an officer of the French Legion of Honor.
Her work in modern design included the concepts of geometric abstraction, and the integration of furniture, fabrics, wall coverings, and clothing into her art practice.
Wikipedia contributors. Opening excerpt, formatted for reading. CC BY-SA 4.0. Source revision.
Influenced by
- Henri Rousseaueditorial inference
Evidence
The biography identifies Rousseau among Delaunay's formative Paris influences. Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
- André Deraineditorial inference
Evidence
The biography identifies Derain among Delaunay's early Paris influences. Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
- Henri Matisseeditorial inference
Evidence
The biography identifies Matisse among Delaunay's early Paris influences. Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
- Vincent van Gogheditorial inference
Evidence
The biography identifies Van Gogh among the works influencing Delaunay during her early Paris years. Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
- Paul Gauguineditorial inference
Evidence
The biography identifies Gauguin among the works influencing Delaunay during her early Paris years. Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
Later influence
- Eduardo Vianaeditorial inference
Evidence
The biography identifies Sonia Delaunay as an artistic influence on Eduardo Viana. The Delaunays concern Viana's work in 1916; Cézanne concerns his later post-Impressionist style. Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
Artworks by year
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Finding recorded artworks…
Museums & collections
Documented holdings of works attributed to Sonia Delaunay. Check the museum’s record for current display information.
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art6 recorded works
- Musée d'art moderne de Paris2 recorded works
- musée des Beaux-Arts — Nantes2 recorded works
- Museum of Modern Art2 recorded works
- National Gallery of Art2 recorded works
- Art Institute of Chicago1 recorded work
- musée des beaux-arts — Lille1 recorded work
- Tate1 recorded work
- The Cleveland Museum of Art1 recorded work
Sources 10
- Wikidata (CC0)
- National Gallery of Art
- Museum authority country review
- Pantheon 2025 — Datawheel (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Museum authority country review
- Tate Collection metadata (October 2014 snapshot)
- Pantheon 2025 — Datawheel (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Expanded artwork research — official museum evidence
- Pantheon 2025 — Datawheel (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- WikiArt women artists review — 20 September 2026