# Event Details

- **Event Name**: An Introduction to Modern Art: Creative Couples
- **Event Start and End Date**: Wed, 21 Jan, 2026 at 10:30 am
- **Event Description**: Image by Sonia Delaunay: Electric Prisms 1914

The Romantics pictured the artist as a singular genius, a creative visionary ploughing his own field. This is rarely, if ever, the case. Artists belong to schools or movements. Most closely engage with the work of their predecessors and peers. Some of the most significant moments in modern art arise from artists working in tandem, their achievements spurred on by productive collaboration or competitive rivalry. In many cases, the couples were also romantically involved.

This series of talks looks at various artistic couples exploring the connections between their works and their contribution to the art movements they belonged to.    

Orphism: Robert and Sonia Delaunay

Robert and Sonia Delaunay were pioneers of Orphism, a form of geometric abstraction famed for its kaleidoscopic use of colour. This talk considers the Delaunays’ paintings and textiles, and the influence of music, poetry and dance on their work.  

German Expressionism:  Gabriele Münter and Wassily Kandinsky 

In 1902, the pioneering painter and theorist Wassily Kandinsky invited artist Gabriele Münter to attend his summer school in the Alps.  The encounter was transformative for them both, altering not only the course of their lives and work but the history of art.

Constructivism: Alexander Rodchenko and Varvara Stepanova

Constructivist couple Alexander Rodchenko and Varvara Stepanova combined revolutionary politics with revolutionary art.  Working against the backdrop of the Russian Revolution, they envisioned a new art for a new society. Their work straddled the fine and applied arts, encompassing everything from painting, sculpture and photography to biscuit packaging, stage sets and textiles.    

Photography: Man Ray and Lee Miller

American artist Man Ray was an American photographer associated with Dada and Surrealism. Renowned for his innovations in camera-less photography, he produced experimental Rayographs alongside conventional fashion photography. His protégé and lover, Lee Miller began her career as a model before becoming the war correspondent for Vogue.

The Bauhaus: Anni and Josef Albers

Josef Albers was an artist, theorist and educator who taught at two of the twentieth century’s most influential art schools: the Bauhaus in Germany and Black Mountain College, USA.  His wife and fellow teacher Anni Albers was a pioneering textile designer, who combined old weaving methods with radical Bauhaus design.

Neo-Dada: Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg

Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns are important figures in post-war American art, whose work forms an important bridge between Abstract Expressionism in the 1950s and Pop Art in the 1960s.  Rauschenberg has been dubbed ‘the most inventive artist since Picasso’, while Johns frequently tops the list of the most important living artists.

Course Tutor Simon Margerison

Dr Simon Marginson is an independent art historian and curatorial researcher. He specialises in twentieth-century art and has published on various aspects of British and European modernism.

Course Dates on Wednesdays 10.30am-12pm:
21st and 28th January 2026
4th,11th,18th and 25th February
Cost: £48 for six sessions

Wharfeside Theatre (unallocated seating)
- **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/ilkley/an-introduction-to-modern-art-creative-couples/200029129429102
- **Event Categories**: art, workshops, fine-arts, theatre, literary-art, nonprofit
- **Interested Audience**: 
  - total_interested_count: 1

## Ticket Details

- **Ticket URL**: https://ilkleyplayhouse.co.uk/IlkleyPlayhouse.dll/WhatsOn?Film=4533206&utm_source=AllEvents.in&utm_medium=event-discovery-platform&utm_campaign=ilkley-events

## Event venue details

- **city**: Ilkley
- **state**: EN
- **country**: United Kingdom
- **location**: Weston Road, LS29 8DW Ilkley, United Kingdom
- **lat**: 53.92675
- **long**: -1.822
- **full address**: Weston Road, LS29 8DW Ilkley, United Kingdom, Ilkley, United Kingdom

## Event Organizer details

- **affiliate_id**: 2
- **organizer**: Ilkley Playhouse (https://allevents.in/org/ilkley-playhouse/26656544)

## Event gallery

- **Alt text**: banner
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events7/banners/6bbe855cda23e37a4e6186bfb9e88a075e5b24e7cd50d1e91c16b5fc71e00c79-rimg-w620-h350-dc2d5e64-gmir?v=1768919959
- **Alt text**: thumbnail
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events7/banners/a37a96c097aa1a2915730a0df95a7b1ac2bd331877f46569e429c44145e639d5-rimg-w300-h300-dcd5d3d8-gmir?v=1768919959

## FAQs

- **Q**: When is the event happening?
  - **A:** Wed, 21 Jan, 2026 at 10:30 am
- **Q**: Where is the event happening?
  - **A:** Weston Road, LS29 8DW Ilkley, United Kingdom, Ilkley, United Kingdom
- **Q**: Who is organizing the event?
  - **A:** Ilkley Playhouse
- **Q**: What type of event is this?
  - **A:** art, workshops, fine-arts, theatre, literary-art, nonprofit
- **Q**: Where can I find ticket details about An Introduction to Modern Art: Creative Couples ?
  - **A:** You can find ticket details about this event on AllEvents.

## Structured Data (JSON-LD)

```json
[
    {
        "@context": "https://schema.org",
        "@type": "Event",
        "name": "An Introduction to Modern Art: Creative Couples",
        "image": "https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events7/banners/6bbe855cda23e37a4e6186bfb9e88a075e5b24e7cd50d1e91c16b5fc71e00c79-rimg-w620-h350-dc2d5e64-gmir?v=1768919959",
        "startDate": "2026-01-21",
        "url": "https://allevents.in/ilkley/an-introduction-to-modern-art-creative-couples/200029129429102",
        "location": {
            "@type": "Place",
            "name": "Weston Road, LS29 8DW Ilkley, United Kingdom",
            "address": {
                "@type": "PostalAddress",
                "name": "Weston Road, LS29 8DW Ilkley, United Kingdom, Ilkley, United Kingdom",
                "addressLocality": "Ilkley",
                "addressRegion": "EN",
                "addressCountry": "GB"
            },
            "geo": {
                "@type": "GeoCoordinates",
                "latitude": "53.92675",
                "longitude": "-1.822"
            }
        },
        "eventAttendanceMode": "https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceMode",
        "description": "Image by Sonia Delaunay: Electric Prisms 1914\n\nThe Romantics pictured the artist as a singular genius, a creative visionary ploughing his own field. This is rarely, if ever, the case. Artists belong to schools or movements. Most closely engage with the work of their predecessors and peers. Some of t",
        "organizer": [
            {
                "@type": "Organization",
                "name": "Ilkley Playhouse",
                "url": "https://allevents.in/org/ilkley-playhouse/26656544",
                "description": "Ilkley Playhouse, Ilkley. 234 likes · 50 talking about this. Ilkley's theatre on the banks of the River Wharfe. Drama l Comedy l Youth Theatre l Music l..."
            }
        ]
    }
]
```