In the early period 1912-1917 works of a futuristic nature prevail in his work; the main motive is the desire to destroy old thinking, old forms and create a new world (poem collection "I!"). They are characterized by anti-aestheticism, shocking themes, urbanization of the image, dynamism, rapid change of intonation and meter, many occasionalisms, mystifying and hyperbolizing the image of the author himself, emphasizing his youth, beauty, and also suffering due to unrequited love. Wrote anti-war and mocking works of the regime of the time of residence.
His later lyrics are related to 1917. To renew the world with the slogans of the February revolution and the October coup. In the poems "Myliu", "Apie tai" express the poet's intimate feelings, the mystified portrait of the author emerges again, various artistic tools are used - urban romance, colloquial language. In the poems "To Sergei Yesenin" (1926), in the poem "With all my voice", in the article "How to make verses?" (1926), he raised questions about the purpose of art and the artist's civic responsibility. Wrote satirical works (play "Misterija Buf", i.e. one author of costumes and decorations, performer of several roles, "Bug", "Bathroom", poem "Nusiposedziavusieji", 1922), movie script ("Lady and the hooligan", based on E . de Amičius, t.p. and the performer of the main role, "Not born for money", according to J. London; tp. played the role of Ivan Naujoj; both 1918, both directed by E. Slavinskis, "Three", 1928, directed by M. Narokov, and others). His poetry combines pathos, satire and lyricism, characteristic tonal poetry, dynamic images, innovative vocabulary and poetic syntax, expressive, broken strophes of poems, imperative intonations, corresponding rhythms, emphasizing the meaningful function of rhyme.
in 1908 joined RSDDP(b). For revolutionary activities in 1909 imprisoned three times, he started writing poems in Butyrkai prison. Released at mother's request after 1909. left the party and no longer participated in its activities. 1911-1914 studied at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture. in 1912 together with Davyd Burliuk, V. Chlebnikov, V. Kamenski founded the cubofuturist group "Gilėja", contributed to the creation of its manifesto "Slap to Public Taste" (Пощёчина общенийному вкусу). 1912-1923 participated in actions organized by futurists - art exhibitions, poetry readings, discussions. 1915-1917 was drafted into the army and served at a driving school in Petrograd. 1919-1921 worked in ROSTA windows, created about 1,100 posters with campaign-like verse texts, designed the so-called campaign trains. 1922-1928 led the group of writers and artists "LEF", 1923-1925. edited the magazine "LEF" and in 1927-1928 Novy LEF. During the period of the new economic policy (1921-1929), he created social press advertisements with A. Rodchenko; traveled abroad a lot. 1930 joined the Russian Association of Proletarian Writers (RAAP). 1930 organized an exhibition of works "20 years of work" at the beginning. Most former futurists, leftists and members of the RAAP either ignored the exhibition or harshly criticized it in the press. Suffering from depression, he shot himself.
