El Lissitzky, by name of Eliezer Lissitzky, also spelled Elizar Lissitzky, Russian in full Lazar Markovich Lisitsky, Yiddish Lasar Markowitsch Lissitzky, (born November 11, 1890, Pochinok, near Smolensk, Russiaââ¬âdied December 30, 1941, Moscow), Russian painter, typographer, and designer, a pioneer of nonrepresentational art in the early 20th century. His innovations in typography, advertising, and exhibition design were particularly influential.