Kurt Lewy

1891-1963

Lewy was born in Essen, Germany in 1891.

Lewy studied at the Folkwangschule in Essen and from 1919 to 1923 at the college of applied arts in Berlin. He went on to study enamel sculpture in Pforzheim (Baden).

He returned to the Folkwangschule to teach until 1933. He also gave courses at the Bauhaus.

Lewy became active in Belgium from 1935 and naturalized United States citizen in 1951, he was active in Chicago.

Lewy was a painter, watercolorist, enameller. He also did designs for tapestries.

He is most known for his geometric paintings. These paintings are balanced yet dynamic; they examine the power that color and line alone can have. Lewy’s early work showed the influenced  of the traditional Cubist style.

Looking at his body of work, one can clearly see how his multiple practices built upon one another to create compelling art.

There are several books about Lewy published in German.

He eventually moved back to Belgium, he died in Brussels in 1963.