Biography

Natascha de SENGER, also known as Natascha MICHEEW-KULLBERG and Natascha ALEXANDROVNA JUSUPOV (YOUSSOPOV), was a Swedish and Swiss sculptor and painter.

Natascha de SENGER was born in Gothenburg, Sweden, on April 19, 1925. She came from a family of the Russian aristocracy, part of the white emigration. Her family settled in Stockholm a few years after her birth. Her mother, Elena PAVLOVNA born SCHEREMETIEFF (SHEREMETIEV), was also a painter.

At the age of 6, Natascha modelled her first sculptures, which led her to meet Carl ELDH and become his student. She studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm where she was awarded several prizes. Prince Eugen of Sweden became her patron.

After completing her studies, Natascha de SENGER went to Geneva, Switzerland, from where she travelled the world until the 1950s to continue her training with the greatest painters and sculptors of her time. She went to the United States to be with the Swedish sculptor Carl MILLES, who was, at the time, head of the sculpture department at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. She also spent time in Finland with the Finnish artist and sculptor Waino ALTONEN and in Italy, with the Italian sculptor Giacomo MANZU,  professor at the Academy of Brera.

Natascha de SENGER also worked with the Swedish sculptor, painter and graphic designer, Eric GRATE  in his studio in Skjeberg south of Leksand.

Natascha de SENGER’s life was very cosmopolitan, punctuated by trips around the world for her sculptures and paintings (she spoke six languages fluently!). She had studios in Sweden (Stockholm, Tällberg), Austria (Vienna), the United States (New York), France (Saint-Paul de Vence) and Switzerland (Celerina, Geneva) where she resided for many years. She became a Swiss national.

Natascha de SENGER died in Tällberg, Sweden, on March 13, 2012. She is buried in the Cimetière des Rois (Cemetery of Kings) in Geneva for her contribution to the city’s reputation.

In 2023, the Geneva State Council approved the proposal by the commune of Collonges-Bellerive to name the square at Chemin du Pré-d’Orsat 8 and 10 “Place Natascha-De-Senger”.

Biography

Signatures

Throughout her career, the artist signed her works under different names: Natascha, Natascha Alexandrovna, Natascha de S., N. de Senger, Natascha de Senger, Natascha Jusupov, Jusopov and Nalthus.

These changes have sometimes been challenging for collectors, gallery owners and individuals who have known her or followed her under different identities.

Commitment to animals

Animals have always played a major role in Natascha de SENGER’s life. All her life, she was surrounded by animals which would turn out to be a source of inspiration and abnegation.

In 1980, she founded in Geneva the association O.M.A.U.S.A.: Organisation Mondiale des Arts Unis pour la Sauvegarde des Animaux (World Organization of Arts United for the Saving of Animals). The objective of her association was the protection of endangered animal species, the improvement of their quality of life and the preservation of nature.

Her dedication accompanied her to Sweden where she founded the same organization in 1991. Her first project was the preservation of wetlands and marshlands in decline including migratory birds.

Works

Works

Private life

Natascha de SENGER was married three times.

FREDRIK KULLBERG (born 1913 – died 1980)

Descendant of the protestant KULLBERG family, Fred KULLBERG was the grandson of August KULLBERG, a brilliant Swedish industrialist, also known as the “King of Katrineholm” since he founded Kullberg & Co, one of Sweden’s largest companies of the 19th and early 20th centuries, whose headquarters were located in Katrineholm.

GUSTAV HARALD EDELSTAM (born 1913 – died 1989)

Descendant of the protestant EDELSTAM family, Swedish Ambassador Gustav Harald EDELSTAM was known for helping hundreds of Norwegians of the Jewish faith, special operations agents and resistance fighters escape the Nazis during World War II. Then, in the 1970s, he saved hundreds of Chileans, diplomats, Cuban civilians, and Uruguayan and Bolivian refugees from persecution by the dictator Augusto PINOCHET, while stationed in Santiago de Chile.

Each year the EDELSTAM Foundation awards the EDELSTAM Prize to a person who has demonstrated outstanding contributions and courage in the defence of human rights.

FRANCOIS-LOUIS de SENGER (born 1906 – died 1993)

Grandson of the Geneva composer Hugo de SENGER, Swiss businessman and publicist, François-Louis de SENGER was the founder and owner of Annonces Senger, publisher of numerous newspapers (Femina, Elle, Bilan, Bilanz, Zürcher Woche, Trente Jours, Illustrazione Ticinese, etc.).

GERARDO HOCHSCHILD ROSENBAUM (born 1920 – died 1992)

Descendant of the HOCHSCHILD family, Gerardo HOCHSCHILD ROSENBAUM was the son of Moritz HOCHSCHILD,  known as DR. Mauricio HOCHSCHILD, a famous entrepreneur known as the tin magnate. Moritz HOCHSCHILD will be remembered for his little-known role as the “Schindler of Bolivia”, whose correspondence on this subject is listed as World Heritage by UNESCO in the “Memory of the World” program.

Private

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