After leaving the military in 1918, László Moholy-Nagy decided to pursue a career in the arts, adopting the surname Moholy-Nagy and relocating to Berlin in the spring of 1920, where he became an integral part of the city's vibrant art scene.
In addition to creating paintings, drawings, and sculptures, Moholy-Nagy also experimented with photograms, photographic images made without a camera, as well as camera photographs. From 1923 to 1928, he taught at the Bauhaus design school in Weimar and Dessau, where he honed his skills as an artist and educator.
In 1928, Moholy-Nagy returned to Berlin, where he began producing short silent black-and-white films. Two years later, he moved to the Netherlands, where he took up color photography, a medium that would become a significant part of his artistic output.
The following year, Moholy-Nagy relocated to London, where he was approached by Alexander Korda of London Films to design special effects for the film Things to Come. Although his work was ultimately not used in the final product, Moholy-Nagy continued to work in film, producing short color films in addition to his other artistic endeavors.
In 1937, Moholy-Nagy moved to Chicago, where he was tasked with directing a design school. When the school closed, he went on to establish his own institution, the School of Design, which was based on the principles of the Bauhaus.
Under Moholy-Nagy's leadership, the school flourished, and in 1944, it was reorganized and renamed the Institute of Design. Today, the Institute is a department of the Illinois Institute of Technology, a testament to Moholy-Nagy's enduring legacy as an artist, educator, and innovator.
Throughout his years in Chicago, Moholy-Nagy continued to produce a wide range of artistic works, including books, photograms, black-and-white and color camera photographs, and short color films. Despite his many accomplishments, Moholy-Nagy's life was cut short when he was diagnosed with leukemia in 1945. He passed away the following year at the age of 51, leaving behind a body of work that continues to inspire and influence artists and designers to this day.
