Renowned Artist Frank Auerbach Dies at 93

Kindertransport survivor became celebrated figure in 20th-century art
By Newser.AI Read our AI policy
Posted Nov 12, 2024 2:43 PM CST
Renowned Artist Frank Auerbach Dies at 93
This undated photo provided by Pelham Communications on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024 of Frank Auerbach.   (David Dawson/Pelham Communications via AP)

Renowned artist Frank Auerbach, who escaped Nazi Germany for Britain as a child, has died at the age of 93 in London. Auerbach's gallery, Frankie Rossi Art Projects, announced his death. Born in Berlin in 1931, Auerbach arrived in England eight years later via the Kindertransport trains that brought Jewish children out of Nazi-occupied Europe just prior to the war. Both his parents were killed in the Holocaust.

Auerbach's journey in art began at a boarding school alongside fellow war orphans, leading him to study at St. Martin's School of Art and the Royal College of Art in London. He maintained a rigorous work ethic, dedicating himself to painting 364 days a year in his north London studio from 1954 until his passing. Auerbach was a key figure in the "School of London," known for his distinctive style of thick, layered paint that blurred the line between abstraction and recognizable form.

His artistic career, which gained momentum in the '70s, included high points like a retrospective exhibition at Hayward Gallery in 1978; he represented Britain at the 1986 Venice Biennale, where he clinched the Golden Lion. In 2023, his painting "Mornington Crescent" fetched $7.1 million at Sotheby's. "We have lost a dear friend and remarkable artist but take comfort knowing his voice will resonate for generations," stated Geoffrey Parton, director of Frankie Rossi Art Projects. Auerbach leaves behind his son, Jacob. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)

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