Pierre Alechinsky

Belgian painter and graphic artist born in Brussels. After studying at the Ecole supericure d'Architecture et d'Art decoratif in Brussels, Alechinsky joined the Jeune Peinture belge association in 1947. In 1949 he also joined the Cobra group, but disassociated himself from it in 1951. He then moved to Paris where he studied drawing with Hayter at Atelier 17 in 1952. Soon afterwards he made contact with a number of Japanese calligraphers, including Shiryu Morita. In 1955 he travelled in the Far East and made a film in Japan entitled Calligraphic Japonaise. From 1960 onwards, he travelled in the USA and Mexico. He is now living in Paris. Alechinsky's work, which reveals the influence of eastern calligraphy, includes a large number of graphic designs.Source: Phaidon Dictionary of Twentieth Century Art