Olgivanna Milanoff

Olgivanna Milanoff was a Montenegrin dancer and Theosophist who played a significant role in the life of famous American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. She was born in Montenegro and later moved to Russia, where she became involved with the Theosophical Society and met her first husband, Vladimir Milanoff. Olgivanna's life was marked by her association with prominent figures such as Helena Blavatsky, Henry Steel Olcott, and Annie Besant. Her interests in Theosophy and Spiritualism led her to interact with notable individuals like Rudolf Steiner, Alice Bailey, and Jiddu Krishnamurti.

● Early Life and Education

Olgivanna Milanoff was born in Cetinje, Montenegro in 1898 to a family of Montenegrin nobility. She received her early education in Russia and later studied Ballet at the Imperial School of Ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia. During her time in Russia, she was exposed to the teachings of Theosophy and became interested in the works of Helena Blavatsky and Henry Steel Olcott. Olgivanna's education and upbringing were influenced by her interactions with prominent Theosophists such as Annie Besant and Charles Webster Leadbeater. She also developed an interest in the Arts and Crafts movement, which was popularized by William Morris and John Ruskin.

● Career

Olgivanna's career as a dancer took her to various parts of Europe and Asia, where she performed with companies such as the Ballets Russes and the Imperial Russian Ballet. She was also involved with the Theosophical Society and participated in various Theosophical events and conferences, including the Theosophical Congress in Adyar, India. Olgivanna's association with Theosophy led her to meet notable figures such as Rudolf Steiner, Alice Bailey, and Jiddu Krishnamurti. She was also acquainted with prominent artists and intellectuals like Wassily Kandinsky, Kazimir Malevich, and Piet Mondrian.

● Personal Life

In 1924, Olgivanna married Vladimir Milanoff, a Russian architect, but the marriage was short-lived. She later met Frank Lloyd Wright in 1924 and began a romantic relationship with him. The two eventually married in 1928 and remained together until Wright's death in 1959. Olgivanna's personal life was marked by her relationships with these two men, as well as her interactions with other notable figures such as Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, and Georgia O'Keeffe. She was also friends with Marion Mahony Griffin, Walter Burley Griffin, and Louis Sullivan.

● Involvement with

the Taliesin Community Olgivanna played a significant role in the Taliesin community, which was established by Frank Lloyd Wright in Wisconsin. She was involved in the management of the community and helped to promote Wright's architectural philosophy. Olgivanna's association with the Taliesin community led her to interact with notable architects and designers such as Bruce Goff, Herbert Jacobs, and E. Fay Jones. She was also acquainted with prominent artists and intellectuals like Aaron Copland, Edgar Varèse, and Frank Lloyd Wright Jr.. The Taliesin community was influenced by the ideas of Theosophy and Organic architecture, which emphasized the importance of harmony between buildings and their surroundings.

● Later Life and Legacy

After Frank Lloyd Wright's death in 1959, Olgivanna continued to be involved in the Taliesin community and worked to promote Wright's architectural legacy. She was also involved in the establishment of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and the Taliesin West complex in Arizona. Olgivanna's later life was marked by her interactions with notable figures such as Robert Moses, Le Corbusier, and Mies van der Rohe. She passed away in 1985 in Phoenix, Arizona, leaving behind a legacy as a prominent figure in the world of Architecture and Theosophy. Olgivanna's life and work continue to be celebrated by institutions such as the Guggenheim Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. Category:American architects