Born on January 28

British journalist and explorer (1841–1904), famous for finding David Livingstone in central Africa in 1871. He led several major expeditions across Africa and played a significant role in the colonization of the Congo.

French novelist, playwright, and journalist (1873–1954), Colette is a towering figure of twentieth-century French literature. A prolific author, she explores themes of sensibility, nature, and female freedom through poetic, sensory prose.

Swiss physicist (1884–1962), he was the first person to reach the stratosphere by balloon (1931), then designed the bathyscaphe to explore the ocean depths. A pioneer of extreme exploration, he pushed the boundaries of scientific knowledge in both vertical directions.

Alice Neel (1900-1984) was an American painter known for her expressive, uncompromising portraits. A feminist and committed leftist, she spent decades painting the people of New York, from intellectuals to anonymous figures.

American painter (1912-1956), a major figure of Abstract Expressionism. The inventor of “dripping,” he revolutionized painting by flinging color onto canvases laid on the floor.

Swedish-American sculptor born in 1929, a major figure of Pop Art. He is celebrated for his monumental sculptures of everyday objects made from soft materials or at large scale, transforming the ordinary into works of art.