My Life with Alexander Archipenko. Frances Archipenko-Gray

“My Life with Alexander Archipenko” is the memoir of Frances Archipenko-Gray, who was with the famous Ukrainian artist during the last years of his life. Their acquaintance began at the Archipenko School in New York State: then the young Frances, who was still searching for herself in life and in her work, became a student of the authoritative master. Despite the supposedly significant difference — generational, cultural — their dialogue outgrew the “mentor-student” model.

Some time after the death of the artist’s wife, Frances and Alexander began to live together, and later got married. Ms. Archipenko-Gray tells about their life together with extraordinary sincerity, yet invariably delicately, subtly analyzing the feelings and discoveries, the joys and difficulties of an unusual union. And he had to go through many trials, because society (an integral part of which were also the freedom-loving relatives of Francis, who adhered to traditional views) was not always ready to tolerate relationships that went beyond the usual.