Si Lewen

Art Brokerage: Si Lewen Polish Artist: b. 1918-2016. Si Lewen was born on November 8, 1918 in Lublin, Poland, at the end of World War I. As an infant he was smuggled into Germany. In his early years in Berlin he witnessed the artistic, cultural, and political upheaval during the "Weimar" years. Lewen took up drawing and painting at an early age. By age 5 he had decided he would become an artist. Growing up in Germany resulted in him being socially pointed to as that "Polish Jewboy". Lewen was artistically gifted at an early age, having his first Gallery show before the age of 14. He drifted from his ancestral Jewish religion, which resulted in him refusing the traditional Bar Mitzvah. His educational and budding art career ended abruptly when Hitler came to power in 1933. Fearing the worst he fled to France, with plans on continuing on to America. That never would have happened had there not been a coincidental relationship to Admiral Byrd and his expedition to Antarctica. As it happened, his Uncle was one of the sponsors of Byrd's expedition. In the US, Senator Byrd, the Admiral's brother, was grateful for his Uncle's help and facilitated his coming to America. After his release from a mental institution, he again put his artistic endeavors on hold. At the outbreak of World War II Lewen enlisted in the US Army and saw action from Normandy through France, then eventually back to Germany. Returning to America after the War he resumed his art career. He felt that this would be the only way he could heal himself from the traumas he had been exposed to early in life. He had been highly influenced by the French Modern movement, especially Cubism. He presented his works in many gallery shows during this time, with very successful sales results. Listings wanted.