Russian Empire-born American printmaker (1907–1996)
Leon Gilmour
Born (1907-07-25 ) July 25, 1907Riga , Russian Empire (now Latvia)
Died March 31, 1996(1996-03-31) (aged 88) Resting place Forest Lawn Memorial Park , Glendale , California, U.S.Education School of Practical Art , Otis College of Art and Design Occupation(s) Designer, visual artist, illustrator, art director, printmaker Years active 1930s–1980s Known for Wood engraving Movement Regionalism , Social realist Spouse Helen Bernice Gilmour
Leon Gilmour (1907–1996) was a Russian-born American visual artist, designer, teacher, illustrator, and laborer. He is best known for his social realist , wood engravings featuring laborers, or the California landscape and nature. His work is often associated with the Regionalist artists.
Biography
Leon Gilmour was born on July 25, 1907, in Riga , Russian Empire (now Latvia).[ 1] He immigrated to the United States through Ellis Island in March 1916, at the age of nine.[ 2]
Early in his career he studied at the School of Practical Art in Boston (now Lesley University).[ 3] Gilmour held a series of labor jobs in order to support himself, including working as a: construction worker in New York City , field hand in the Midwest , gold miner in Colorado, and as a truck driver in Los Angeles, California.[ 2] In 1931, Gilmour moved to Los Angeles to attend Otis College of Art and Design and studied wood engraving with artist Paul Landacre .[ 4] [ 5] In 1933 he worked for Public Works of Art Project and later for the through the succeeding government program, the Federal Art Project (FAP) .[ 2]
He taught classes at the University of Southern California and had later careers as a designer, illustrator, and art director.[ 6] In 1951, he moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to act as art director for the H.S. Crocker Lithography Company.[ 7] He was a member of the American Artist's Congress .[ 6] Together with his wife Helen they had a son, Lawrence Gilmour .[ 8]
Death and legacy
Gilmour died on March 31, 1996, in Burlingame , California .[ 1] [ 9]
Gilmour is included in Edan Milton Hughes book, "Artists in California, 1786–1940".[ 7] His son Lawrence and a grandson, Zach Gilmour, are printmakers in Northern California .[ 3] [ 8]
Collections
Gilmour's artwork is featured in many public art collections and museums, including: Smithsonian American Art Museum ,[ 9] Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF) within the Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts department,[ 10] Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art ,[ 11] National Gallery of Art ,[ 12] Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri–St. Louis ,[ 13] San Jose Museum of Art ,[ 14] Columbus Museum of Art ,[ 15] New Britain Museum of American Art ,[ 16] Flint Institute of Arts ,[ 17] and many others.
Exhibitions
2009 – California in Relief: A History in Wood and Linocut Prints at Hearst Art Gallery, curated by Art Hazelwood , Hearst Art Gallery at Saint Mary’s College of California , Moraga, California[ 18] [ 19]
2010 – Three Generations of California Printmakers: The Works of Leon, Lawrence and Zachary Gilmour , San Geronimo Valley Community Center, San Geronimo, California [ 8]
2014 – International Wood Engraving Invitational, Davidson Galleries, Seattle, Washington[ 20]
2017–2018 – Crossroads: American Scene Prints from Thomas Hart Benton to Grant Wood , San Jose Museum of Art , San Jose, California[ 21] [ 22] [ 23]
References
^ a b "Leon Gilmour Biography" . Annex Galleries Fine Prints . Retrieved July 2, 2018 .
^ a b c Francey, Mary. "American Printmakers and the Federal Art Project" . Artist Essays: FAP Printmakers . Retrieved July 2, 2018 .
^ a b Rippee, Larry; Rea, Molly (June 28, 2011). "Interview with printmakers Lawrence and Zach Gilmour" . Larry Rippee and Molly Rea Art . Retrieved July 2, 2018 .
^ "Leon Gilmour Biography" . International Fine Print Dealers Association (IFPDA) . 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2018 .
^ American Scenes: WPA-Era Prints from the 1930s and 1940s . La Salle University Art Museum . 2014. p. 90. ISBN 9780988999923 .
^ a b "Volcanic Rock | New England Art Exchange" . neartexchange.com . Retrieved July 2, 2018 .
^ a b "Artist Biography for Leon Gilmour" . Askart.com . Retrieved July 2, 2018 .
^ a b c Liberatore, Paul (July 12, 2010). "Forest Knolls man follows in the footsteps of his father and grandfather as a printmaker" . Marin Independent Journal . Retrieved July 2, 2018 .
^ a b "Leon Gilmour" . Smithsonian American Art Museum . Retrieved July 2, 2018 .
^ "Leon Gilmour" . FAMSF Explore the Art . May 8, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2018 .
^ "Collection: Cement Finishers" . Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art . Retrieved July 2, 2018 .
^ "Collection: Let the Living Rise" . National Gallery of Art (NGA) . Retrieved July 2, 2018 .
^ "Collection" . University of Missouri–St Louis .
^ "Collection: Gilmour" . San Jose Museum of Art . Retrieved July 2, 2018 .
^ "Embark Collection" . Columbus Museum of Art . January 27, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2018 .
^ "Collection: Cement Finishers" . New Britain Museum of Art .
^ "Cement Finishers" . Flint Institute of Arts . Retrieved July 2, 2018 .
^ Villarreal, Ignacio. "California in Relief: A History in Wood and Linocut Prints at Hearst Art Gallery" . artdaily.com . Retrieved July 2, 2018 .
^ "California history in print" . East Bay Times . August 5, 2009. Retrieved July 2, 2018 .
^ Upchurch, Michael (January 17, 2014). "Davidson Galleries' 'Wood Engraving Invitational' " . The Seattle Times . Retrieved July 2, 2018 .
^ Edalatpour, Jeffrey (December 20, 2017). "San Jose Museum of Art: 'Crossroads' " . Metroactive . Retrieved July 2, 2018 .
^ "Exhibitions + Collection, Crossroads: American Scene Prints from Thomas Hart Benton to Grant Wood" . San José Museum of Art . August 28, 2017. Retrieved July 2, 2018 .
^ "Crossroads: American Scene Prints from Thomas Hart Benton to Grant Wood" . MutualArt.com . Retrieved July 2, 2018 .