Frank Auerbach's Legacy: From Berlin to Camden Town, a Life of Perpetual Motion in Paint

Frank Auerbach, who was born in Berlin in 1931, passed away in 2024, leaving behind a significant artistic impact. At the age of eight, he was sent to England to escape Nazi persecution, never to reunite with his parents, who died at Auschwitz. From 1948 to 1954, he studied under David Bomberg and attended both St Martin's School of Art and the Royal College of Art. For thirty years, he and Leon Kossoff frequented the National Gallery in London. Auerbach's early works, such as Head of Gerda Boehm (1961-1982), showcased his use of thick paint. His studio in Camden Town, occupied since 1954, became a center of creativity. Notable exhibitions included the 1986 Venice Biennale and a 2001 display at the Royal Academy. Robert Hughes described him as "one of the most admired artists working in England today."