Leon Berkowitz | |
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 Berkowitz inc. 1950 | |
| Born | (1911-09-14)September 14, 1911 Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | August 17, 1987(1987-08-17) (aged 75) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Education | University of Pennsylvania, Art Students League of New York, Corcoran College of Art and Design, Académie de la Grande Chaumière |
| Movement | Washington Color School |
| Spouses | |
Leon Berkowitz (14 September 1911 – 17 August 1987) was an American artist and educator. He is best known for his color field paintings and the series,The Unities. He co-founded the Washington Workshop Center, a gallery and school.
Berkowitz was a leading member of the art movement, theWashington Color School.[1] Berkowitz did not like the label of, "Washington Color School" and often rejected it for his own work.[2]
Leon Berkowitz was born on 14 September 1911 inPhiladelphia,Pennsylvania, to parents Yettie (née Pries) and Bernard Berkowitz.[3][4] His parents wereHasidic, fromHungary.[1] His date of birth sometimes has a different listed date (including 1915, 1919), and his place of birth has also been listed as nearbyTrenton Township.[4] Between 1935 and 1937, he married poetIda Fox [Wikidata].[1]
He attended theUniversity of Pennsylvania,[4] theArt Students League of New York (1941),[1] theCorcoran College of Art and Design, and theAcadémie de la Grande Chaumière. DuringWorld War II between 1943 and 1945, Berkowitz served in theUnited States Army and was stationed in Virginia.[4]
After his service he moved to Washington D.C. and co-founded the Washington Workshop Center (also known as the Workshop Art Center or Washington Workshop Center for the Arts) alongside his wife Ida Fox Berkowitz and artistHelmut Kern [Wikidata].[1] The workshop offered classes, workspace, and a gallery. The center became a key gathering place for the Washington Color School artists, includingMorris Louis,Kenneth Noland,Howard Mehring,Thomas Downing, andGene Davis.[1][5] One of Berkowitz' students at the workshop wasScott Burton.[6]
His paintings were abstract, and softly radiated colors and tones that one might found in nature.[7]
Berkowitz died on 17 August 1987. His work can be found in public collections, including atSmithsonian American Art Museum,[8]Des Moines Art Center,[9]National Gallery of Art,[10]Corcoran Gallery of Art,[10]John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art,the Phillips Collection,[11]Museum of Modern Art, theAldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, theWadsworth Atheneum, theHigh Museum of Art, and theKalamazoo Institute of Arts.[12]
Berkowitz' work was featured in the postmortem exhibition,Hard and Soft (2002) at ACA Galleries in New York City.[7] His work was in the exhibit,Painting the Picture (2018–2019), atMuseum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville.[13]
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