Figurative painter Frank Auerbach, a prominent member of the London School alongside Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud, passed away at the age of 93. His gallery, Frankie Rossi, confirmed that he died peacefully at his home in London on November 11, 2024. Auerbach was born in Berlin in 1931 to a Jewish family and fled Nazi Germany for the UK as a child refugee in 1939, becoming a naturalized citizen in 1947.
Auerbach's artistic journey began after studying at St. Martin's School of Art and the Royal College of Art in London. He dedicated over seven decades to painting, developing a reputation for his intense portraits and vibrant London landscapes. His unique technique involved layering multiple coats of paint to achieve a textured effect, maintaining a figurative style throughout his career despite changing artistic trends.
Living and working in the same north London studio since 1954, Auerbach's work gained significant recognition later in life. A major retrospective at Tate Britain in 2015 elevated his profile in the art market. His painting 'Mornington Crescent' sold for a record $7 million in 2023, while 'Head of Gerda Boehm' fetched over $5 million in 2022. His most recent exhibition, 'Frank Auerbach: The Charcoal Heads,' took place in February 2024 at the Courtauld Gallery.
Following his death, tributes poured in from major museums and cultural institutions, including the National Gallery, honoring Auerbach's legacy as a remarkable artist whose influence will endure for generations. Geoffrey Parton, director of art projects at Frankie Rossi Gallery, expressed that while they have lost a dear friend, Auerbach's voice will resonate through his art.
