Essor

Robert Wogensky was born in 1919 in Paris. Of Polish origin, his family moved to France where he studied art in the studio of René Jaudon and then at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. The artist was mobilised in 1939 for the war. He was freed in 1940 and stayed in Lyon where he worked in the theatre and with puppets before going clandestinely to Paris. There he met Jean Lurçat, who he had met in 1939. Together, they settled temporarily in the Lot region to work on numerous tapestry cartoons. It is also Jean Lurçat who introduces Robert Wognesky to Denis Majorel. The famous tapestry lover and gallery owner bought his first box from him in 1945. From then on, the artist became a member of the APCT (Association des Peintres Cartonniers de Tapisseries). Robert Wogensky went to Aubusson in 1947 where he met the main masters of the weaving workshops: François Tabard, Suzanne Goubely, Raymond Picaud and Camille Legoueix. He will weave a particular link with the latter who will execute a very large part of the tapestries from the artist's cartoons.

From 1956 to 1985, Robert Wogensky taught at the Ecole des Arts appliqués in Paris. At the same time, he produced numerous works: paintings, tapestries, mosaics, frescoes. In 1960, Robert Wogensky met Jean Paulhan. After having written the first part of one of his exhibition catalogues, the academician asked the artist to draw his future sword "of immortality". Robert Wogensky is exhibited in several galleries in France and abroad. He also participates in numerous exhibitions and responds to public commissions (Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Ministry of National Education, Senate...). In 1964, he was named Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters. Robert Wogensky also collaborated with the architect Jean prouvé, from 1973 to 1976, by organising the Cercle d'études architecturales. Robert Wogensky is today considered as one of the fathers of the revival of modern tapestry.