Aleksandra Ekster was a Ukrainian-French painter and designer born on January 6, 1882, in Białystok, Poland (then part of the Russian Empire). She was one of the leading figures of the Russian avant-garde movement and is known for her colourful and geometric paintings, as well as her work in fashion and theater design. Ekster studied at the Kiev Art School and later moved to Paris, where she became part of the artistic community that included Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, and Jean Cocteau. She worked for the Ballets Russes and designed sets and costumes for numerous plays and operas. Ekster died on March 17, 1949, in Fontenay-aux-Roses, France, but her contributions to the avant-garde movement continue to be celebrated and recognized today.