Frank Auerbach British German painter dies aged 93

Frank Auerbach, celebrated British-German figurative painter and Holocaust survivor, dies at 93.

Frank Auerbach, a painter whose life and career spanned seven decades, passed away at age 93 in his London home. Saved by the Kindertransport as a child, Auerbach grew up to become one of the most influential figurative painters of the postwar period, known for his unique, deeply layered paintings. Born in Berlin in 1931, he arrived in Britain at eight and would later immerse himself in the vibrant Soho art scene, forming friendships with artists such as Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud.

Famous for his relentless technique of layering and removing paint until achieving his desired effect, Auerbach often left up to 95% of his paint in the bin. Geoffrey Parton, of Frankie Rossi Art Projects, called him “one of the greatest painters of our age,” saying his legacy will continue to inspire future generations.

After a turbulent childhood, Auerbach began his formal training in London at St Martin’s School of Art and continued at the Royal College of Art. His artistic rise came in 1956 with his first solo exhibition in London, where his bold, tactile style divided audiences but earned high praise from critic David Sylvester.

Auerbach’s work frequently depicted London’s urban landscapes, especially Camden, where he maintained his studio for 50 years. His close relationships with a small circle of sitters, including his wife Julia Wolstenholme and model Estella Olive West, fueled his intense creative process. Auerbach’s later successes included a major retrospective at the Hayward Gallery in 1978, the Golden Lion award at the Venice Biennale in 1986, and a Tate Britain retrospective in 2015.

Auerbach is survived by his son, Jake, a filmmaker. Though he reconciled with Wolstenholme later in life, Auerbach often preferred solitude in his studio. Despite the ever-changing art world, he remained dedicated to his craft, painting nearly to the end of his life. In his own words, “It’s much more interesting to paint.”

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