Leon Kossoff facts for kids

Leon Kossoff (born December 10, 1926 – died July 4, 2019) was a British painter. He was famous for his artworks showing people, drawings from real life, and scenes of London, England. His paintings often used thick layers of paint, giving them a unique texture.

Early Life and Art Training

Leon Kossoff was born in Islington, London. He spent most of his childhood there with his family. In 1938, he went to Hackney Downs School in London.

A year later, in 1939, he was moved with his school to King's Lynn, Norfolk. He lived with Mr. and Mrs. R.C. Bishop, who helped him explore his interest in art. This is where Kossoff created his very first paintings.

When he returned to London in 1943, Kossoff studied commercial art at Saint Martin's School of Art. He also took evening classes to draw people from real life at Toynbee Hall.

Military Service and Further Studies

After his art studies, Kossoff spent three years serving in the military. He was part of the Royal Fusiliers and served in countries like Italy, Holland, Belgium, and Germany.

After his military service, he went back to art school in 1949. He returned to Saint Martin's School of Art. From 1950 to 1952, he took special classes at Borough Polytechnic. There, he learned from a famous teacher named David Bomberg.

Kossoff was also inspired by another student of Bomberg's, Frank Auerbach. Both young artists explored similar feelings and subjects in their art. They both used a painting style called impasto. This means they applied paint very thickly to the canvas.

Developing His Style

Kossoff often chose subjects from the London area where he grew up. From 1950 to 1953, his art studio was in Mornington Crescent. He then moved his studio to Bethnal Green, where he lived until 1961.

He continued his art education at the Royal College of Art from 1953 to 1956.

Art Career and Exhibitions

In 1956, Kossoff joined the Beaux Arts Gallery in London. This helped him show his art to more people.

Starting in 1959, Kossoff also began teaching art. He taught at the Regent Street Polytechnic, the Chelsea School of Art, and the Saint Martin's School of Art. All these schools were in London.

Showing His Work

While teaching, Kossoff kept creating his own art. Soon, his paintings were shown in galleries and art shows. He exhibited alongside his friend Frank Auerbach and other famous artists like Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud.

During this time, Kossoff moved his studio to Willesden Junction. In 1966, he moved his studio again to Willesden Green.

Major Exhibitions

In 1995, Kossoff's artworks were shown at the 46th Venice Biennale. This is a very important international art exhibition. In 1996, the Tate Gallery held a special show just for his art.

In 2007, London's National Gallery had an exhibition of Kossoff's work. It was called "Leon Kossoff: Drawing from Painting."

In 2010, Kossoff had a traveling exhibition of his new paintings and drawings. It started in London, then went to New York, and ended in Los Angeles.

From 2013 to 2014, his urban landscapes were shown in another international exhibition. It was called "Leon Kossoff: London Landscapes."

Leon Kossoff passed away on July 4, 2019, at the age of 92.