De Stijl

08/29/2026

The mid-century expressionist portrait shown in the image is a notable oil on canvas work by the British artist David Kennedy.

Artist Biography: David Kennedy
Life & Background: David Kennedy was an acclaimed British painter and sculptor who spent much of his creative career living and working on the picturesque Greek island of Aegina. He lived there alongside his wife, Maya, drawing deep artistic inspiration from the rustic Mediterranean landscape and the intimate everyday life of the island until he passed away in February 2014.
Artistic Style: Kennedy's signature style blends bold expressionist brushstrokes with cubist architectural lines. His work often explores thick outlines, heavily textured palettes, and deeply emotive, fragmented facial structures reminiscent of early European modernist masters.
Subjects & Philosophy: While he was a prolific painter of portraits, landscapes, and religious imagery, he was equally renowned for his raw bronze sculptures. He frequently chose local animals as his primary subjects, noting that his affinity for nature stemed from a deeply held philosophical view: "Because I am an animal too". His life and work on Aegina were famously documented in the Greek biographical film David Kennedy, Sculpting Life.

Come to De Stijl Art & Antiques, 703 Commercial St in Emporia KS to see it. 620-480-1188

08/29/2026

David Burliuk (1882–1967) was a seminal Ukrainian-born avant-garde painter, poet, and publisher widely hailed as the "father of Russian Futurism". Known for his eccentric personality, immense energy, and colorful aesthetic, Burliuk co-authored the famous 1912 manifesto A Slap in the Face of Public Taste. He played a central role in bridging Eastern European folklore with Western European modernism before spending the second half of his life working and painting in the United States.
Early Life and European Education
Burliuk was born on July 21, 1882, in Semyrotivka (then part of the Russian Empire, now Ukraine) into a privileged, culturally rich family. Showing early artistic talent alongside his brothers Vladimir and Nikolai, he pursued extensive art education between 1898 and 1910:
Art Schools of Kazan and Odessa
Royal Academy in Munich, studying under Anton Ažbe
École des Beaux-Arts in Paris
Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture, from which he was later expelled in 1911 for breaking artistic traditions.
The Radical Avant-Garde & Futurism
Returning to Russia, Burliuk became an explosive force in the pre-revolutionary art scene. He organized exhibitions, gave provocative lectures, and marched through public squares with poetry painted on his face.
Stylistic Fusion: His artwork blended Fauvism, Cubism, and Futurism, featuring bold colors and heavy, thick paint layers.
The Blue Rider: He maintained strong ties to Western Europe, exhibiting his early work with Wassily Kandinsky’s Der Blaue Reiter group in Munich.
Neo-Primitivism: He retained a profound interest in Scythian culture and traditional Ukrainian/Russian peasant life, often painting local folklore themes in a deliberate, primitive style.
Global Escape and the "Radio Style"
Disrupted by World War I and the Russian Revolution, Burliuk traveled east to escape the turmoil. Between 1917 and 1922, he painted and lectured across Siberia and Japan, introducing Futurism to Japanese artists.
In 1922, Burliuk emigrated to the United States, settling in New York and eventually moving to Long Island. In America, he adapted to his new surroundings by developing what he called "Radio Style"—an eclectic approach incorporating Symbolism and Social Realism to mirror the vast mix of modern global cultures arriving through the airwaves.
Legacy
Burliuk passed away on January 15, 1967, in Southampton, New York. He was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters that same year. Today, his masterpieces are housed in premier institutions worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Whitney Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the State Russian Museum.

Come see it at De Stijl Art & Antiques, 703 Commercial St in Emporia 620-480-1188

08/29/2026

We're here till 6 to offer you a complimentary glass of wine or ice cold beer, the best selection in Kansas, sale prices, and great conversation. De Stijl Art & Antiques, 703 Commercial St in Emporia 620-480-1188

08/28/2026

Really nice vintage Republican elephant pin / pendant marked "Best" Excellent condition and ready for your collection. De Stijl Art & Antiques, 703 Commercial St in Emporia KS 620-480-1188

08/28/2026

Thanks for being a top engager and making it on to my weekly engagement list! 🎉 Janice Jaggard, Xochitl Arzate, Charla Adams

08/27/2026

Curtis Jeré is a compound nom de plume of founding artists Curtis Freiler and Jerry Fels, who combined parts of their own names to create the C. Jeré signature.
According to Modernism magazine, which interviewed Jerry Fels shortly before his death in October 2008, the company was founded in 1963 by Fels and his brother-in-law Curtis (Kurt) Freiler. Freiler was the production chief and Fels was head of design. Their goal was to produce "gallery-quality art for the masses." Prior to the establishment of Artisan House, the partners built a costume jewelry business, selling work under the names Renoir and Matisse, which employed around 300 people at one point. Kurt and Jerry sold Artisan House in 1972. Kurt Freiler died July 22, 2013, at the age of 103.
In a two-page article on the history of C. Jeré for the November 2010 issue of Elle Decor, Mitchell Owens wrote that, after launching in 1964, C. Jeré sculptures were "distributed by Raymor, a cutting edge studio in New York City, and retailed at Gump's in San Francisco and other high quality emporiums…Under Freiler's meticulous direction, the workers—a number of whom were minorities or handicapped—sheared, crimped, torched, and welded brass, copper, and other metals before coating them with luminous patinas…Today those pieces are attracting the admiration of leading dealers in vintage chic."

08/26/2026

08/26/2026

Vintage costume jewelry is 30% off today! De Stijl Art & Antiques, 703 Commercial St in Emporia KS 620-480-1188

08/22/2026

We look forward to hosting Rebekah Curry for the September Art Walk