Kazimir Severinovich Malevich (February 23, 1878 - May 15, 1935) was a painter and art theoretician, pioneer of geometric abstract art and the originator of the Avant-garde Suprematist movement.

Kasimir Malevich was born near Kiev, Kiev Governorate of Russian Empire. His parents, Seweryn and Ludwika Malewicz, were ethnic Poles, and he was baptised in the Roman Catholic Church.

His father was the manager of a sugar factory. Kazimir was the first of fourteen children, although only nine of the children survived into adulthood. (From Wikipedia).