Kazimir Malevich, a pioneer in the development of 20th century modern abstract art, died on May 15, 1935 at the age of 56. Malevich was born in Kiev in Ukraine in 1879 and studied at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture. He is best known for his "Suprematist" approach to abstract painting, developed in 1915. This revolutionary style emphasizes the power of simple, flat shapes and lines in two-dimensional paintings. His works were heavily influenced by his experiences in his eventual home country of Russia, where he explored the relationship between paint and surface texture to create texture-filled abstract works. Malevich was a major influence in the development of Constructivism, Neo-Plasticism, and other forms of abstract art. He was deeply respected by his peers and students alike, many of whom carried on his legacy as they developed their own works. The art world feels a deep loss in the death of Malevich, but his legacy lives on in the many masterpieces he left behind. He will be remembered for centuries to come as an artist who shaped the development of modern art.