What is Suprematism and How Does It Shape Our Work?

At Olshbau, our work is deeply inspired by the bold, radical spirit of Suprematism. But what exactly is Suprematism — and how does it continue to influence our handmade 3D wall art and sculptures?

The Birth of Suprematism

Suprematism emerged in Russia in the early 20th century, pioneered by Kazimir Malevich. It marked a dramatic departure from realism and decorative art — Suprematism sought to reduce art to its purest essentials: geometric shapes, limited color palettes, and visual balance.

Malevich believed that the true essence of art lay in “the supremacy of pure artistic feeling”, rather than representing objects from the visible world. Think: floating squares, circles, crosses, and dynamic compositions stripped of narrative — but full of emotional power.

Why Suprematism Matters to Us

Suprematism speaks to us not only because of its clean, abstract forms but also because of its daring — its pursuit of the essential.

At Olshbau, we use all natural and beautiful plywood, cardboard, and acrylic paint to bring these ideals into physical space. Each piece we create is a small construction — a synthesis of color, form, and rhythm. Like the Suprematists, we aim to express something beyond the everyday: a quiet energy, a tension between simplicity and complexity.

Geometric Minimalism with Soul

Our wall art and sculptures aren’t meant to depict the world — they exist alongside it. A red square set against an off-white field; a tilted black circle that feels like it’s about to move — these aren’t just shapes. They are moods, moments, memories.

We often work with a limited palette — red, black, white, gold — because restrictions fuel creativity, just as they did for Malevich and his contemporaries.

Suprematism in Three Dimensions

Where Suprematist paintings lived mostly on canvas, we explore what happens when those same ideas become dimensional, textural, and tactile. How does a floating square feel when it casts a shadow on your wall? What happens when light shifts across the layered surface of a painted sculpture?

Our work doesn’t copy Suprematism. Instead, it absorbs its logic — then lets it evolve through our materials, our techniques, and our hands.

Final Thoughts

Suprematism is more than an art style — it’s a way of seeing. It reminds us to strip away the unnecessary, to focus on balance, contrast, and feeling. In every piece we make at Olshbau, you’ll find echoes of this powerful tradition — reimagined in three dimensions.

If you’re drawn to clean lines, abstract forms, and objects that feel timeless yet modern, you might already be a Suprematist at heart.