Frank Auerbach

A prolific London-based painter, Frank Auerbach’s distinctive and expressive style earned him recognition among some of the most respected institutions in the art world. Born in Berlin, Auerbach arrived in London in 1939 as a child refugee and made the city his home and studio, drawing inspiration from his immediate environment and closest relationships. He maintained several regular sitters over the course of his lifetime, including his friend Estella Olive West, whom he painted on a weekly basis for twenty-three years. Auerbach exhibited for over fifty years, beginning in 1953, including a solo exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts in 2001 and a 2015 retrospective at Tate Britain. He had the distinction of representing Britain at the 1986 Venice Biennale, receiving the Golden Lion Award alongside artist Sigmar Polke.