Leo Bensemann

Leo Bensemann
OBE
Born
Leo Vernon Bensemann

(1912-05-01)1 May 1912
Tākaka, New Zealand
Died2 January 1986(1986-01-02) (aged 73)
Christchurch, New Zealand
Known for
  • Painting
  • caricatures
  • printing
  • typography
  • publishing and editing
Notable workPortrait of Rita Angus (in collection of Te Papa Tongarewa)
Spouse
Mary Barrett
​
(m. 1943)​

Leo Vernon Bensemann OBE (1 May 1912 – 2 January 1986) was a New Zealand artist, printer, typographer, publisher and editor.

Early life

Bensemenn was born in Tākaka on 1 May 1912, the son of Victor Bensemann, a blacksmith, and his wife, Ruby Arnold. He was educated at Nelson College from 1925 to 1930, and in 1931 moved to Christchurch with his friend Lawrence Baigent. In February 1938, Bensemann and Baigent moved to Christchurch and flatted in a house owned by the artist Sydney Thompson at 97 Cambridge Terrace. Rita Angus also lived at the Cambridge Terrace address, which became a meeting place for the Christchurch art scene with people like Louise Henderson, Olivia Spencer Bower, Allen and Betty Curnow, Francis Shurrock, Frederick Page and Evelyn Page, Denis Glover and Douglas Lilburn regular visitors.

Career

Printer and typographer

In 1935, Denis Glover and John Drew set up the Caxton Press and in 1937 printed their first art publication, Bensemann's Fantastica: Thirteen Drawings. Bensemann assisted with the printing of the book and this led to his joining Caxton Press as a partner in 1937, and staying with the business until 1978. In 1960, with architect Peter Beavan, sculptor Tom Taylor and others, Bensemann helped form the New Zealand Design Association, "to develop and raise standards of design throughout the country". Recognising the absence of a journal devoted to contemporary art, in 1966 Bensemann and Barbara Brooke produced five issues of art magazine Ascent. Art writer Ross Fraser congratulated Ascent on its ability to get their writers to push back and provide feedback good or bad. Bensemann retained a strong interest in typography throughout his career at Caxton press and in 1969 was awarded a QEII Arts Council travel grant to Europe to study typography and graphic art. After leaving the Caxton Press, Bensemann set up his own publishing house in 1978, producing several books under the imprint of The Huntsbury Press.

Artist

Study for a portrait of Lieutenant Keith Elliott by Bensemann

While flatting in Cambridge Terrace, and supported by Angus's nomination, Bensemann joined The Group in 1938. Seven of the nine works he submitted to this exhibition were portraits – including a self-portrait, a portrait of Rita Angus and one of Lawrence Baigent. He continued to show regularly as a Group member and was represented in the final exhibition in 1977 with four paintings, this time all landscapes. Bensemann was a regular exhibitor of paintings, caricatures and typography in both dealer galleries and public venues through to the 1980s. His work is represented in a number of public collections in New Zealand. The first painting to enter a public collection was Canterbury Spring (1961), purchased by the Robert McDougall Art Gallery the same year it was painted.

Solo exhibitions

Bensemann's solo exhibitions included:

  • 1972 Leo Bensemann Retrospective Rue Pompallier Gallery Akaroa. 38 paintings from 1936 to 1972. Critic G.T.M described Bensemann as one of the early artists who, ‘began to “see” New Zealand rather than just “look” at it.’
  • 1979 Leo Bensemann Brooke Gifford Gallery, Christchurch
  • 1981 Leo Bensemann: Drawings Brooke Gifford Gallery, Christchurch
  • 2011 Leo Bensemann: A Fantastic Art Venture Christchurch Art Gallery. The exhibition was only open for 12 days closing prematurely when Christchurch suffered a major earthquake.
  • 2025 Leo Bensemann: Paradise Garden Christchurch Art Gallery Toi Wai Whetu  “paintings based on the hills, beaches and intriguing karst rock formations that dominate Mohua Golden Bay”

Collections

Bensemann's work is held in public collections, including:

Honours and awards

In the 1985 New Year Honours, Bensemann was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to art, literature and printing.

References

  1. ↑ Simpson, Peter. "Leo Vernon Bensemann". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  2. ↑ "Nelson Education Board". Nelson Evening Mail. 15 December 1924. p. 3.
  3. ↑ "Full school list of Nelson College, 1856–2005". Nelson College Old Boys' Register, 1856–2006 (CD-ROM) (6th ed.). 2006.
  4. ↑ Halliday, J (2008). "Who was H Courtney Archer?". Architectural History Aotearoa (5): 55–64.
  5. ↑ "Viewing Rita Angus with Leo's eyes". The Press. 26 May 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  6. ↑ "At Caxton Press". Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  7. ↑ Caffin, Elizabeth. "Publishing – New publishers, 1930s and 1940s". Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  8. ↑ "City Men Form N.Z. Design Association". The Press (Christchurch). 25 October 1960. p. 16. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  9. ↑ "Ascent". Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  10. ↑ Simpson, Peter. "Bensemann, Leo Vernon". Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  11. ↑ Fraser, Ross (1968). "Ascent". Landfall. 22 (1): 106–107.
  12. ↑ "Obituary Mr Leo Bensemann". The Press. 3 January 1986. p. 5. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  13. ↑ "The Black Arts". Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  14. ↑ Simpson, Peter (2016). Bloomsbury South : the arts in Christchurch, 1933–1953. Auckland, New Zealand. ISBN 9781869408480. OCLC 945106039.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  15. ↑ "Exhibition of Paintings and Drawings by the 1938 Group 1938" (PDF). Christchurch Libraries. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  16. ↑ "The Group" (PDF). Christchurch Libraries. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  17. ↑ "Leo Bensemann caricatures". Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  18. ↑ Simpson, Peter. "Bensemann Centennial". Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  19. ↑ "Exhibition by Leo Bensemann". The Press (Christchurch). 22 March 1972. p. 15.
  20. ↑ ""Cathy at Schaumburg", a painting by Leo Bensemann in his exhibition at the Brooke-Gifford Gallery". The Press (Christchurch). 9 June 1979. p. 23. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  21. ↑ "Two attractive exhibitions". The Press (Christchurch). 11 August 1981. p. 20. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  22. ↑ "40 Years of Leo Bensemann". Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  23. ↑ "Leo Bensemann: Paradise Garden". Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  24. ↑ "Leo Bensemann". Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhatū.
  25. ↑ "Artworks". Auckland Art Gallery.
  26. ↑ "Leo Bensemann". Dunedin Public Art Gallery.
  27. ↑ "Leo Bensemann". The Suter Art Gallery.
  28. ↑ "No. 49970". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 31 December 1984. p. 2.