Leon Kossoff
Encyclopedia
Leon Kossoff is a British expressionist painter, known for portraits, life drawings and cityscapes of London
, England
.
Leon Kossoff was born in 1926 in Islington
, London, and spent most of his early life living there with his Russian
Jewish parents. In 1938, he attended the Hackney Downs (Grocers) School in London. In 1939, he was evacuated with the school to King’s Lynn, Norfolk
, where he lived with Mr and Mrs R.C. Bishop, who encouraged his interest in art. During this time, Kossoff made his first paintings. When he returned to London in 1943, Kossoff went to St Martin's School of Art, and studied commercial art. He also attended life drawing classes in the evenings at Toynbee Hall
.
After his education was completed he spent three years in military service with the Royal Fusiliers, attached to the 2nd Battalion Jewish Brigade, and served in Italy, Holland, Belgium and Germany. After his military service, he returned to the St. Martin’s School of Art in 1949, and at Borough Polytechnic, took special classes under David Bomberg
from 1950 to 1952. He was also influenced by another one of his teacher’s students, Frank Auerbach
. Both young artists dealt with similar emotions and subject matter in their work, and employed heavy impasto
in their paintings. Kossoff chose his subject matter mostly from the area of London where he was born. From 1950–1953, Kossoff's studio was located at Mornington Crescent
; he then moved to Bethnal Green
, where he lived until 1961. Kossoff studied at The Royal College of Art from 1953–1956.
In 1956, Kossoff joined Helen Lessore’s Beaux Arts Gallery
, located on Bruton Place in London.
In 1959, Kossoff began to teach at the Regent Street Polytechnic
, the Chelsea School of Art
, and the St Martin's School of Art, all of which were in London. While teaching, he continued his artistic career, and soon started featuring in many galleries and shows, along with his friend Frank Auerbach
and other artists, such as Francis Bacon
, Lucian Freud
and Keith Critchlow
a school friend from St. Martin's. During this time, Kossoff moved his studio to Willesden Junction, and in 1966, moved his studio to Willesden Green, where he lives and works today.
In 2007 the National Gallery (London), held an exhibition of Kossoff's work entitled "Leon Kossoff: Drawing from Painting".
Kossoff was offered the honour of Commander of British Empire (CBE
), by the Queen Elizabeth II, but he refused the honour.
In 2010, Kossoff exhibited a traveling show of new paintings and drawings, beginning at Annely Juda Fine Art, London, then traveling to Mitchell-Innes & Nash, New York, and ending at L.A. Louver, Los Angeles
.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Leon Kossoff was born in 1926 in Islington
Islington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
, London, and spent most of his early life living there with his Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
Jewish parents. In 1938, he attended the Hackney Downs (Grocers) School in London. In 1939, he was evacuated with the school to King’s Lynn, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, where he lived with Mr and Mrs R.C. Bishop, who encouraged his interest in art. During this time, Kossoff made his first paintings. When he returned to London in 1943, Kossoff went to St Martin's School of Art, and studied commercial art. He also attended life drawing classes in the evenings at Toynbee Hall
Toynbee Hall
Toynbee Hall is a building in Tower Hamlets, East London which is the home of a charity working to bridge the gap between people of all social and financial backgrounds, with a focus on eradicating poverty and promoting social inclusion....
.
After his education was completed he spent three years in military service with the Royal Fusiliers, attached to the 2nd Battalion Jewish Brigade, and served in Italy, Holland, Belgium and Germany. After his military service, he returned to the St. Martin’s School of Art in 1949, and at Borough Polytechnic, took special classes under David Bomberg
David Bomberg
David Garshen Bomberg was an English painter, and one of the Whitechapel Boys.Bomberg was one of the most audacious of the exceptional generation of artists who studied at the Slade School of Art under Henry Tonks, and which included Mark Gertler, Stanley Spencer, C.R.W. Nevinson and Dora Carrington...
from 1950 to 1952. He was also influenced by another one of his teacher’s students, Frank Auerbach
Frank Auerbach
Frank Helmut Auerbach is a painter born in Germany although he has been a naturalised British citizen since 1947.-Biography:Auerbach was born in Berlin, the son of Max Auerbach, a patent lawyer, and Charlotte Nora Burchardt, who had trained as an artist...
. Both young artists dealt with similar emotions and subject matter in their work, and employed heavy impasto
Impasto
In English, the borrowed Italian word impasto most commonly refers to a technique used in painting, where paint is laid on an area of the surface very thickly, usually thickly enough that the brush or painting-knife strokes are visible. Paint can also be mixed right on the canvas...
in their paintings. Kossoff chose his subject matter mostly from the area of London where he was born. From 1950–1953, Kossoff's studio was located at Mornington Crescent
Mornington Crescent
Mornington Crescent may refer to:* Mornington Crescent , in the London Borough of Camden* Mornington Crescent tube station, situated at the northern end of the street...
; he then moved to Bethnal Green
Bethnal Green
Bethnal Green is a district of the East End of London, England and part of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, with the far northern parts falling within the London Borough of Hackney. Located northeast of Charing Cross, it was historically an agrarian hamlet in the ancient parish of Stepney,...
, where he lived until 1961. Kossoff studied at The Royal College of Art from 1953–1956.
In 1956, Kossoff joined Helen Lessore’s Beaux Arts Gallery
Beaux Arts Gallery
Beaux Arts Gallery, London, England, founded in 1923 and closed in 1965, was known as a preeminent center for promoting avant-garde art.Founded and operated by portrait sculptor Frederick Lessore in 1923, the gallery was run by his wife Helen Lessore, a painter, until it closed in 1965...
, located on Bruton Place in London.
In 1959, Kossoff began to teach at the Regent Street Polytechnic
University of Westminster
The University of Westminster is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. Its origins go back to the foundation of the Royal Polytechnic Institution in 1838, and it was awarded university status in 1992.The university's headquarters and original campus are based on Regent...
, the Chelsea School of Art
Chelsea College of Art and Design
Chelsea College of Art and Design, the erstwhile Chelsea School of Art, is a constituent college of the University of the Arts London, and is a leading British art and design institution with an international reputation...
, and the St Martin's School of Art, all of which were in London. While teaching, he continued his artistic career, and soon started featuring in many galleries and shows, along with his friend Frank Auerbach
Frank Auerbach
Frank Helmut Auerbach is a painter born in Germany although he has been a naturalised British citizen since 1947.-Biography:Auerbach was born in Berlin, the son of Max Auerbach, a patent lawyer, and Charlotte Nora Burchardt, who had trained as an artist...
and other artists, such as Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon (painter)
Francis Bacon , was an Irish-born British figurative painter known for his bold, austere, graphic and emotionally raw imagery. Bacon's painterly but abstract figures typically appear isolated in glass or steel geometrical cages set against flat, nondescript backgrounds...
, Lucian Freud
Lucian Freud
Lucian Michael Freud, OM, CH was a British painter. Known chiefly for his thickly impasted portrait and figure paintings, he was widely considered the pre-eminent British artist of his time...
and Keith Critchlow
Keith Critchlow
Keith Barry Critchlow is an artist, lecturer, author, and professor of architecture in England, and a co-founder of the Temenos Academy.He was educated at the Summerhill School and the Royal College of Art...
a school friend from St. Martin's. During this time, Kossoff moved his studio to Willesden Junction, and in 1966, moved his studio to Willesden Green, where he lives and works today.
In 2007 the National Gallery (London), held an exhibition of Kossoff's work entitled "Leon Kossoff: Drawing from Painting".
Kossoff was offered the honour of Commander of British Empire (CBE
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
), by the Queen Elizabeth II, but he refused the honour.
In 2010, Kossoff exhibited a traveling show of new paintings and drawings, beginning at Annely Juda Fine Art, London, then traveling to Mitchell-Innes & Nash, New York, and ending at L.A. Louver, Los Angeles
L.A. Louver
Located in Venice, Los Angeles, California, USA, L.A. Louver is an art gallery focusing on American and European contemporary art. The building that houses the gallery was designed by architect Frederick Fisher. The gallery is a member of the Art Dealers Association of America. The gallery...
.
External links
- List of Leon Kossoff works on Tate Online
- Leon Kossoff on artnet
- Leon Kossoff on World Wide Art Resources
- Leon Kossoff biography and bibliography at L.A. Louver
- Leon Kossoff at Mitchell-Innes & Nash