Eugene Andrew Agafonoff (Evgeny Andreevich Agafonov) was a Ukrainian painter, graphic artist and scene-designer who was born in 1879. Evgeny Agafonov was born to family of a merchant. He got his first art education in St. Petersburg Academy of Arts in 1899–1907. He studied under the guidance of P. Kovalevsky and F. A. Roubaud. In 1910 Agafonov was awarded gold medal for the painting Draymen at the regional South Russia exhibition in Ekaterinoslav. In 1905–1907 during Revolution, Agafonov illustrated Kharkov satirical magazines Shtyk (“Bayonet”), Mech (“Sword”), Zloy Dukh (“Malignant Demon”) and others. In March 1906 Agafonov together with A. N. Grot, V. D. and D. D. Burlyuk participated in the 7th exhibition of the Cirlce of Kharkov artists (1900–1908). Since 1908 he exposed his works at the exhibitions of the Association of Kharkov artists, at the exhibition of the group Zveno (“Link”) in Kiev (1908), in Rostov-on-Don and Kursk. In 1909 Agafonov founded the experimental theatre Blue Eye in Kharkov on the basis of the avant-garde studio Blue Lily. He designed a lot of performances for this theatre, including The Stranger by A. Blok. The theatre worked only two seasons and was closed in February 1911. Later Agafonov left the Association of Kharkov artists and organized avant-garde group Koltso (“The Ring”, 1911–1914). Members of the group were A. N. Grot, A. M. Zagonov, N. R. Savvin, M. S. Fedorov, E. A. Shteinberg and others. In 1913 Agafonov joined the group Bubnovy Valet (“Jack of Diamonds”), took part in the exhibitions of the group in St. Petersburg. Agafonov participated in the First World War; in 1918 he returned to Kharkov. In the same year he designed covers of the Theatre Magazine. Agafonov joined the group Khudozhestvenny Tsekh (“The Art Guild”); in 1918–1919 he together with M. A. Voloshin, Mane-Katz, and E. A. Shteinberg took part in the exhibitions of the group. In 1919 Agafonov lectured as an art critic in the studio of painting and drawing under the ProletCult (Proletarian Culture). He also exposed his works at the First exhibition of the Art department of Kharkov Soviet of worker’s deputies. Evgeny Agafonov painted a lot of portraits: portrait of the Lieutenant P. P. Schmidt’s lawyer A. Alekseev (1906), portrait of the actress V. F. Komissarzhevskaya (1908). In his paintings Agafonov often used Ukraine national motifs: The portrait of Mr. B., Girls (1908), Many-colored on greenery and others. He also painted landscapes, drew sketches and drawings. In early 1920s Agafonov immigrated to the USA. He was engaged in easel painting, graphic art and advertising. He exposed his works at the exhibitions of the Society of independent artists (1929) and in the French gallery in New York (1931), in the Greenwich public library (1939), and in Derby, Connecticut (1943). Personal exhibitions of the artist were held in the Cas-Delbaut gallery in New York (1931). Works by Evgeny Agafonov, which the artist left in Kharkov, were kept in Kharkov Art Museum. During the Great Patriotic War, the greater part of his works was lost. Only several drawings and theatre designs remained in Kharkov Art Museum. Mr. Agafonov died in 1955. *Info from Art Investment Russia.

Nikolaus Niko Braun (Miklos Bela) was a German/Hungarian artist and sculptor who was born in 1900. In 1920 he became a student of Arthur Segal at his painting studio in Berlin. Mr. Segal and Mr. Braun were members of the Novembergruppe (November Group) and the studio of Mr. Segal was a regular meeting place for artists, Adolf Behne, Raoul Hausmann, Hannah Hoch, Kurt Schwitters and George Grosz. Mr. Braun exhibited with the November Group from 1923 on. Both Mr. Segal and Mr. Braun were also associated with Der Sturm (The Storm) and the December Gallery. In 1924, Mr. Braun participated in the First German Art Exhibition in Moscow. In 1925 Mr. Braun and Mr. Segal published a treatise entitled, “Lichtprobleme der Bildenden Kunst” (On the Problem of Light in the Fine Arts). This volume was an exploration of the meaning of light and form in their work. This book is extremely rare and only four copies are known to be in libraries worldwide. Both teacher and student were strongly influenced by Viking Eggeling’s early film experiments. In 1924, Braun and Segal, along with Moholy-Nagy, Laszlo Peri, Erno Kallai and Alfred Kemeny were in attendance at Mr. Eggeling’s presentation of Diagonal Symphony. In 1938 Braun emigrated to Budapest and later in 1949, he moved to the United States. Mr. Braun died in New York in 1950.

Henri Burkhard was an American artist who was born in 1892. Mr. Burkhard was married with Vee and the two had a daughter in 1910, Verona, who was also a well known artist. Exhibitions of Mr. Burkhard’s work were held by Montross Gallery in 1922, Whitney Studio Galleries in 1929, Brownell-Lambertson Galleries in 1932, J. B. Franco’s Gallery in about 1940. Mr Burkhard died in 1956.

Enrique Castro-Cid was a Chilean artist and sculptor who was born in 1938. Mr. Castro-Cid studied art in Chile until 1960. It was at this time when the Organization of American States awarded him a grant to study art in the United States. The William Copley award and two Guggenheim fellowships (in 1964 and 1965) can also be counted among Mr. Castro-Cid’s awards. Mr. Castro-Cid was a pioneer in the field of computer aided design as it pertained to art and painting. In 1966 Castro-Cid was featured in an article in Time Magazine titled, “The motion is haphazard, The situation unpredictable”. This article explores his view of art, his work and his exhibitions. In it he is quoted, “My paintings grew to be surrealist abstractions with the hint of skeletal joints expressing patterns of growth”. In the 1960’s, Castro-Cid was married to supermodel and Harper’s Bazaar cover model Sylvia. The couple came to New York amid a flurry of accolades and reviews. While in Manhattan, Castro-Cid was exhibited at the Richard Feigen Gallery. He later met and married Christophe de Menil. Castro-Cid was friends with fellow artists Willem De Kooning, James Rosenquist, William Copley and George Plimpton. Mr. Castro-Cid died in Chile in 1992.

Cimo Moveis is a Brazilian furniture company.

Lafer is a Brazilian furniture company that was founded in 1927 by Benjamin Lafer. The Lafer company has become synonymous with high design, often employing some of Brazil’s most famous designers and architects to create furniture designs. A traditional furniture company, Mr. Lafer built the reputation on quality and excellent customer service. In 1961 the company entered into its second generation. The company expanded from the traditional jacaranda (rosewood) into fiberglass products. In the 1970’s the fiberglass Lafer telephone booth was on every corner throughout Brasil. Later, in 1974, Percival Lafer began the MP Lafer car company. The car was inspired by the British MG and had a Volkswagen chassis. An MP Lafer was featured in the James Bond movie, Moonraker.

Keith Lewin is an American artist who was born in 1931. Mr. Lewin is known as a New York City artist, and more specifically as an artist in Brooklyn. In 1961, Mr. Lewin joined the Royal Society for the encouragement of the Arts. It was after 1961, that Mr. Lewin began to use the following title after his name, F.R.S.A. This acronym represents Fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of the Arts. Sometime between 1971 and 1974, Mr. Lewin discontinued his membership in the RSA.

Robert Loughlin is an American artist who was born in 1949. Mr. Loughlin is best known for the portrait that he paints. This is the portrait of his partner of more than 20 years, Gary Carlson. As with another famous New York City artist, Keith Haring, Mr. Loughlin’s art also began on the streets and walls of the city that has made him famous. New York is his canvas and he covers the city with his now iconic portrait. Nowadays, Mr. Loughlin’s work adorns canvases, mid-Century furniture and just about anything else he can get his brush or marker onto. In addition to being an artist, Mr. Loughlin is also a dealer in mid-Century designer furniture and furnishings. Both Loughlin and Carlson are well known in the New York area and have been fixtures on the art scene since they came here from Miami with a collection of Art Deco furniture. They sold the collection to yet another famous artist, Andy Warhol and quickly developed a friendship with Mr. Warhol. Mr. Loughlin died in 2011.

Mastercraft is an American furniture company.

Stephen Pace is an American artist who was born in 1918 in Deventer, Missouri. In his childhood, the family moved to Indiana to operate a grocery store and later a farm. Beginning in 1935 Mr. Pace began art studies with Robert Lahr who guided Pace in his understanding of drawing and watercolor techniques. Pace was called into service for World War II. During his service, he often painted and sketched at any free moment. With the close of the War and return to the States, Pace chose to study art at the Institute of Fine Arts in San Miguel Allende on the GI Bill. After his year abroad, Pace was on a bus en route to Indiana. Stopping at a bus station in New Orleans, Pace knew he had a choice to make. “I knew if I went back to the Midwest, they’d put me to work on the farm. So I flipped a coin, heads New York, tails San Francisco.” New York was to be Pace’s destiny. He studied at the Art Students League in 1948 and 1949, left for Florence in 1950 and then went onto the Academie de la Grande Chaumiere in 1951. New York, however, was to become his muse. Upon his return he was quickly enveloped into the Abstract Expressionist School. He exhibited at several of the Whitney annuals and at the artist run exhibitions of Stable Gallery. He became a regular at some of New York’s famous artist taverns and also counted Franz Kline among his friends. Mr. Pace died in 2010.

Sergio Rodrigues is a Brazilian designer and architect.

Albert Rousseau was a Canadian artist who was born in 1908 in St. Eitenne-de-Lauzon. After graduating from the School of Fine Arts in 1931, Mr. Rousseau had hoped of becoming a professional artist. Those hopes were put on hold as the Great Depression changed his plans slightly — he painted and worked. Later in 1956, Mr. Rousseau began to realize his dream of becoming a full time artist by constructing a studio for himself and his colleagues. He later expanded his painting studio by purchasing a mill in 1970 and renovating the space into an artist’s gallery and cooperative. Mr. Rousseau travelled extensively, always returning to his studio to create his works. Mr. Rousseau died in 1982.

Joaquim Tenreiro was a Brazilian designer, artist and visionary who was born in Portugal in 1906. He made his way to Brazil at the age of 22. His background was one of a strong traditional in furniture making. He brought this with him and was quickly employed with the top furniture manufacturers of Brazil. Focusing their efforts on a wealthy client with European tastes, these furniture makers produced high quality reproductions of colonial furniture. Tenreiro, after some time, rebelled against this and created his own vision. Using raw materials and tropical hardwoods he created an intrinsically Brazilian style. Light, strong, beautiful and comfortable. Space and negative space. He believed furniture should be "formally light... a lightness which has nothing to do with weight itself, but with graciousness, and the functionality of spaces." His dream grew and his popularity soared. Oscar Niemeyer was one of his biggest clients. At the height of his success, he closed his shop to devote his energies to painting. Near the end of his life, some 25 years later, he was creating bird houses to pay for his daily living expenses. He is now celebrated as the Father of Brazilian Modernism.