Frank Auerbach, leading figurative painter who fled Nazis, dies aged 93

Frank Auerbach, the painter who came to Britain as a Jewish refugee escaping Hitler's Germany, has passed away at the age of 93. He went on to become one of the most important figurative artists of the post-war period.

Throughout his impressive 70-year career, the British-German artist gained recognition for his portrait paintings and for capturing the vibrant street life of Camden Town in north London, where he maintained his studio for half a century. His artistic method was distinctive; he often scraped away layers of paint from pieces that didn’t meet his standards, reworking them until the final result was so thick with paint that it seemed ready to tip off the canvas.

He once calculated that 95% of his paint ended up being thrown away. "I'm looking for a fresh way to convey my thoughts," he shared with the Guardian. "I experiment with various approaches until I stumble upon an idea that catches me off guard and is something I hadn't thought of before."

Geoffrey Parton, the director of Frankie Rossi Art Projects, shared: “Frank Auerbach, a leading figure in contemporary painting, passed away peacefully at his London home in the early hours of Monday, November 11th. While we mourn the loss of a cherished friend and extraordinary artist, we find solace in the knowledge that his influence will continue to be felt for many years ahead.”

Auerbach was born in Berlin in 1931 and moved to Britain eight years later, one of six children sponsored by Antonio and Iris Origo. His father worked as an engineering patent agent, and his mother, who had been trained as an artist, were both killed in the Auschwitz concentration camps. Through the sponsorship, he attended Bunce Court, a progressive boarding school in Kent for Jewish refugee children, where he showcased his skills in art and drama. In 1947, Auerbach became a naturalized British citizen, and the following year, he began formal art training in London—studying at St Martin’s School of Art during the day and taking additional night classes at Borough Polytechnic. During this period, he participated in Peter Ustinov’s first play, House of Regrets, which was written when Ustinov was just 19. However, Auerbach ultimately found his true passion in painting and continued his education at the Royal College of Art.

Auerbach became part of the artistic scene in Soho, associating with notable figures like Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud. When Freud passed away in 2011, a portion of his extensive collection of Auerbach's work was donated to the British government to settle £16 million in inheritance taxes.

In 1956, Auerbach had his first solo exhibition at the Beaux Arts Gallery in London. While some attendees were put off by his heavy use of paint, the critic David Sylvester appreciated his work and described it as “the most thrilling and remarkable debut exhibition by a British painter since Francis Bacon's in 1949.”

Experiencing the war profoundly impacted Auerbach. He would wander through the bombed areas of the city, feeling compelled to capture the devastation and document the shared trauma of the nation. Auerbach formed deep connections with his subjects, often choosing to paint only a select group of friends and family. Among them were his wife, artist Julia Wolstenholme, model Juliet Yardley Mills, and Estella Olive West, with whom he had a romantic relationship that eventually led to his separation from Wolstenholme. His studio was known to be small and chilly, and he often used the oven during the winter months to keep the space warm enough to work in. Posing for him could be quite a test of patience; his weekly two-hour sessions could stretch on for a year as he continually painted, scraped away, and repainted. As one sitter noted, it felt “a bit like going to the dentist.”

After facing financial difficulties for many years, Auerbach's situation improved in his later years. In 1978, he had a significant retrospective exhibition at the Hayward Gallery in London, and curator Catherine Lampert became one of his regular models for the following decades. In 1986, he represented the UK at the Venice Biennale, where he shared the prestigious Golden Lion award with the German artist Sigmar Polke.

In 2015, London's Tate Britain held a significant exhibition showcasing Auerbach's artwork in collaboration with the Kunstmuseum Bonn. One of his pieces, "Head of Gerda Boehm," sold for over $5 million in 2022.

Auerbach often drew on art history in his writings and enjoyed sharing his thoughts about his artistic idols: Constable, Titian, Tintoretto, and Veronese. His method had a somewhat traditional feel—despite living in a time of global travel and flashy art events, he seldom ventured far from his home in north London. He admitted to being a workaholic. During the lockdowns of the Covid-19 pandemic, at the age of 91, he began creating self-portraits.

Auerbach had a son named Jake Auerbach, who works in film, with Wolstenholme. After he and West parted ways, he started spending weekends with his wife again. However, he often found his greatest joy when he was alone with his artwork. In a 2015 interview with the Guardian, he mentioned, "I occasionally consider pursuing other interests, but the truth is, painting is far more fascinating."

On Tuesday, Auerbach was honored by many. Turner Prize winner Mark Wallinger shared with the Guardian that Auerbach was a "remarkably important and influential presence" in the art community and a "truly exceptional and significant artist who remained dedicated to his vision until the very end."

The American video artist and cinematographer Arthur Jafa expressed his astonishment, declaring that this person is undoubtedly the finest British painter of the last 75 years.

Sean Scully, a two-time Turner Prize nominee, remarked: “Frank, like many exceptional artists, had a challenging upbringing marked by severe antisemitism. His unwavering dedication to his themes—specifically the complex human head and the grandeur of nature—resulted in a uniquely original style.”

The conceptual artist and painter Michael Craig-Martin expressed his deep sadness upon hearing about Auerbach’s death. He remarked, “He was a crucial figure in the art world, creating incredibly beautiful paintings, drawings, and sculptures.”

Frank was an exceptional individual and an outstanding artist. He stood out as a symbol of honesty and integrity in the British art scene. His commitment to his craft was unwavering, as he had no desire for fame or wealth. Frank was genuine and down-to-earth, never acting superior to others. For him, being an artist was a true vocation, and he remained focused on this journey without any distractions. I truly valued that dedication to his work.

Craig-Martin, whose impressive 60-year career is currently showcased in a retrospective at the Royal Academy, mentioned that Auerbach "sketched and painted almost every day, right up until his last moments."

He remarked, “He was incredibly generous to me, which meant a lot since I admired him greatly. Over the years, only a handful of individuals posed for him regularly, and they all developed a deep dedication to his art. They must be heartbroken right now. I know quite a few of them, and they would go to great lengths to make sure they didn’t miss a session. The bond they shared was remarkable; I can’t think of another case in the art world where sitters were so continuously engaged.”

Author and illustrator Ed Vere remarked that Auerbach was a remarkable artist who devoted his entire life to his craft. Fortunately for those who appreciate his impactful paintings and intense charcoal sketches, his dedication shines through in his work.