Henry Miller Fine Art: Michael Leonard

About

Henry Miller Fine Art presents an exhibition of works by British artist Michael Leonard (1933-2023) at The Coningsby Gallery, London, from 26 February to 2 March 2024 – the first since Leonard passed away in July 2023 aged 90.

Spanning an impressive six decades, including early drawings, commercial illustrations, portraits, nudes, and still life paintings as well as his final work, a large unfinished Vanitas from 2009, the exhibition will give the audience a strong sense of Michael Leonard’s work from the 1950s onwards.

In selecting pictures for this exhibition, Henry Miller has drawn from the entirety of Michael’s long and varied career. In doing so, it is impossible not to get a sense of Michael’s life and personal passions. His drawings of London from his student days at Central St. Martins, perfectly capture the city at the time, but also give us a strong idea of the world around him.

The nude, particularly the male nude, has been a recurring theme in Michael’s work. His figures are usually on the move or in a state of transition (undressing/dressing), but even when they are at rest, dynamism is provided by the design of the picture.  Almost all his paintings of the nude are based on drawings which, besides being preparatory studies, are ends in themselves.

Most famous for his portrait of HRH Queen Elizabeth II which hangs in London’s National Portrait Gallery, Michael started as a commercial artist, illustrating many book covers and magazine articles in the 1960s before embarking on a long and successful career as a professional painter, getting his first solo show in 1974.

On display at the Coningsby Gallery will be many paintings never seen in public before which came directly from Michael’s studio, hjs own personal collection and the Michael Leonard Estate.

A full catalogue is available via the Henry Miller Fine Art website at https://www.henrymillerfineart.co.uk/