Leon Gilmour Explained

Leon Gilmour
Alt:Leon Gilmour
Birth Date:25 July 1907
Birth Place:Riga, Russian Empire (now Latvia)
Death Place:Burlingame, California, U.S.
Resting Place:Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California, U.S.
Education:School of Practical Art,
Otis College of Art and Design
Occupation: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. 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).

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. Together with his wife Helen they had a son, Lawrence Gilmour.[8]

Death and legacy

Gilmour died on March 31, 1996, in Burlingame, California.[9]

Gilmour is included in Edan Milton Hughes book, "Artists in California, 1786–1940". His son Lawrence and a grandson, Zach Gilmour, are printmakers in Northern California.

Collections

Gilmour's artwork is featured in many public art collections and museums, including: Smithsonian American Art Museum, 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

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Leon Gilmour Biography. Annex Galleries Fine Prints. en. 2018-07-02.
  2. Web site: American Printmakers and the Federal Art Project. Francey. Mary. Artist Essays: FAP Printmakers. 2018-07-02.
  3. Web site: Interview with printmakers Lawrence and Zach Gilmour. Rippee. Larry. Rea. Molly. 2011-06-28. Larry Rippee and Molly Rea Art. 2018-07-02.
  4. Web site: Leon Gilmour Biography. 2016. International Fine Print Dealers Association (IFPDA). 2018-07-02.
  5. Book: American Scenes: WPA-Era Prints from the 1930s and 1940s. La Salle University Art Museum. 2014. 90. 9780988999923.
  6. Web site: Volcanic Rock New England Art Exchange. neartexchange.com. 2018-07-02.
  7. Web site: Artist Biography for Leon Gilmour. Askart.com. 2018-07-02.
  8. News: Forest Knolls man follows in the footsteps of his father and grandfather as a printmaker. Liberatore. Paul. 2010-07-12. Marin Independent Journal. 2018-07-02. en.
  9. Web site: Leon Gilmour. Smithsonian American Art Museum. en. 2018-07-02.
  10. News: Leon Gilmour. 2015-05-08. FAMSF Explore the Art. 2018-07-02. en.
  11. Web site: Collection: Cement Finishers. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. 2018-07-02.
  12. Web site: Collection: Let the Living Rise. National Gallery of Art (NGA). 2018-07-02.
  13. Web site: Collection. University of Missouri–St Louis.
  14. Web site: Collection: Gilmour. San Jose Museum of Art. 2018-07-02.
  15. News: Embark Collection. 2016-01-27. Columbus Museum of Art. 2018-07-02. en-US.
  16. Web site: Collection: Cement Finishers. New Britain Museum of Art.
  17. Web site: Cement Finishers. Flint Institute of Arts. en. 2018-07-02.
  18. Web site: California in Relief: A History in Wood and Linocut Prints at Hearst Art Gallery. Villarreal. Ignacio. artdaily.com. en. 2018-07-02.
  19. News: California history in print. 2009-08-05. East Bay Times. 2018-07-02. en-US.
  20. News: Davidson Galleries' 'Wood Engraving Invitational'. Upchurch. Michael. 2014-01-17. The Seattle Times. 2018-07-02. en-US.
  21. Web site: San Jose Museum of Art: 'Crossroads'. Edalatpour. Jeffrey. December 20, 2017. Metroactive. 2018-07-02.
  22. News: Exhibitions + Collection, Crossroads: American Scene Prints from Thomas Hart Benton to Grant Wood. 2017-08-28. San José Museum of Art. 2018-07-02. en.
  23. Web site: Crossroads: American Scene Prints from Thomas Hart Benton to Grant Wood. MutualArt.com. en. 2018-07-02.

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