NZ artist, printer, typographer, publisher and editor (1912–1986)
Study for a portrait of Lieutenant Keith Elliott by Bensemann
Leo Vernon BensemannOBE (1 May 1912 – 2 January 1986) was a New Zealand artist, printer, typographer, publisher and editor.
Bensemenn was born in Tākaka, New Zealand, on 1 May 1912.[1] He moved to Christchurch in 1931 with his friend Lawrence Baigent. In February 1938, Bensemann and Baigent moved into a flat at 97 Cambridge Terrace where artist Rita Angus was living. On Angus's nomination he joined The Group in 1938. Seven of the nine works he submitted to this exhibition were portraits – including a self-portrait, a portrait of Rita Angus and one of Lawrence Baigent.[2]
In 1937 the Caxton Press printed their first art publication, Bensemann's “Fantastica: Thirteen Drawings”. Bensemann assisted with the printing of the book and this led to his joining Caxton Press in 1938. He stayed with Caxton until 1978.[2]
^ abSimpson, Peter (2016). Bloomsbury South : the arts in Christchurch, 1933–1953. Auckland, New Zealand. ISBN9781869408480. OCLC945106039.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)