August Albo

August Albo (11 September 1893 Suurupi, Harju County – 13 December 1963 New York City, USA) was an Estonian artist who studied at the Russian Royal Academy of Art but lived most of his life in New York City. The actual date of his death is unknown, most sources saying 1963 (which is most likely correct), although some individuals claim that they commissioned him to do portraits well into the 1980s.

The details of his life are obscure, with no sure sources, but most seem to agree that he painted for the Czar in Moscow before the Russian Revolution. As a young man, he was also said to have been a ballet dancer (which may account for some of his most known work being of ballerinas), and a professional violinist.

During the beginning of his painting career, he focused on abstract art. However, through appreciation for works from the old school of painting, he started painting with more realism. He was a very versatile artist, and could paint any given subject with incredible detail. He painted all over the world, particularly in cities with renowned ballets, such as Paris, Moscow, and Berlin.

His most famous work was "Free as the Wind", a painting depicting running horses. There are believed to be only 5 of these original "Free as the Wind" paintings in existence. He is also known for his ballerina paintings. One of his lesser known works was of Merike Sheinkin as a child, and he also painted a scene called "Ocean Views" depicting two small boats on a rocky beach.

It is uncertain what his real name was, but he would often sign paintings as "Rod Palmer" or "A. Curtis" in addition to simply "Albo".

Sources

• Much mystery surrounds Estonian artist's life Knox News