Fay Pomerance née Levy (12 July 1912 – 2001) was a British artist known for her paintings in pastel, tempera and in watercolours which were often on religious and spiritual subjects.[1]
Fay Pomerance | |
|---|---|
| Born | Fay Levy 12 July 1912 Birmingham, England |
| Died | 2001 (aged 88–89) |
| Nationality | British |
| Known for | Painting |
| Spouse | Ben Pomerance (m.1936) |
Biography
editPomerance was born in Birmingham and studied at the Birmingham College of Art from 1928 to 1933.[2][3] After graduation, Pomerance worked as a freelance commercial artist but also began exhibiting in group shows, most notably with the Sheffield Society of Artists of which she became a member.[2] Her first solo exhibition was at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool in 1949.[4] Further solo shows followed including at the Ben Uri Gallery, at the Leicester Galleries and also at the Molton and Redfern galleries.[2] In July 1952 she exhibited at the Archer Gallery in Kensington, London.[5] In 1962 and 1963 she had solo show at the Sheffield University Library Gallery and the Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle upon Tyne respectively.[6] Notable works by Pomerance include The Sphere of Redemption cycle panels.[2] She designed a stained glass window, Rebirth of the State of Israel, for the Singers Hill Synagogue in Birmingham.[2] She displayed her ballet themes at Bristol Old Vic as part of the 21st anniversary celebrations of the Dementia Care Trust.[3] Other exhibitions were held at the church of St Botolph without Aldgate, St James's Church, Piccadilly during the 1983 Piccadilly Festival, Nottingham Playhouse and at Crucible Theatre Sheffield.[3]
A retrospective exhibition of her work was held at St Mary's College, Durham in 1999 and a memorial exhibition, The Theme of Redemption, was held at Durham Cathedral in 2004.[2] A similar exhibition was held in Durham during 2018 at Ushaw College.[7] Works by Pomerance are held by a number of museums in Israel and in Britain by the Ben Uri Gallery, the Batley Art Gallery and by both Hull and Staffordshire local authorities.[4][8][6]
Pomerance's work differed from the mainstream of post-war British art. Throughout her life, she experienced spiritual visions which formed the basis of her dreamlike iconography and complex expressions.[7] She explored and developed intense themes through her works such as War Vision, a powerful watercolour series that depicts themes of carnage, genocide, oppression and homelessness.[3]
Personal life
editPomerance's father was Sol Levy, the founder of the Scala Cinema chain. In 1936 she married Ben Pomerance, who became vice-chairman of the furniture firm Waring & Gillow.[2] During her life she travelled extensively in Europe, notably to Scandinavia and also made several trips to Israel.[6] For many years Pomerance lived in Sheffield but spent her later years in Bristol.[2]
References
edit- ^ Grant M. Waters (1975). Dictionary of British Artists Working 1900-1950. Eastbourne Fine Art.
- ^ a b c d e f g h David Buckman (2006). Artists in Britain Since 1945 Vol 2, M to Z. Art Dictionaries Ltd. ISBN 0-953260-95-X.
- ^ a b c d "Henry Dyson Fine Art - Fey Pomerance". www.henrydyson.co.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
- ^ a b Frances Spalding (1990). 20th Century Painters and Sculptors. Antique Collectors' Club. ISBN 1-85149-106-6.
- ^ 15 July 1952 Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer 'Lucifer on Canvas'
- ^ a b c W.M Schwab, ed. (1987). Jewish Artists The Ben Uri Collection. Lund Humphries Publishers Ltd / Ben Uri Art Society. ISBN 0-85331-537-X.
- ^ a b "Fay Promerance: Redemption". Ushaw College. 2018. Archived from the original on 16 October 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
- ^ "Lucifer Reviews Sodom". Ben Uri Collection. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
External links
edit- 5 artworks by or after Fay Pomerance at the Art UK site