{{short description|NZ artist, printer, typographer, publisher and editor (1912–1986)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2020}} {{Infobox artist | name = Leo Bensemann | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|OBE|size=100%}} | birth_name = Leo Vernon Bensemann | birth_date = {{Birth date|1912|05|01|df=y}} | birth_place = Tākaka, New Zealand | death_date = {{Death date and age|1986|01|02|1912|05|01|df=y}} | death_place = Christchurch, New Zealand | known_for = {{Hlist|Painting|caricatures|printing|typography|publishing and editing}} | notable_works = Portrait of Rita Angus (in collection of Te Papa Tongarewa) | spouse = {{marriage | Mary Barrett|1943}} }}
'''Leo Vernon Bensemann''' {{post-nominals|country=NZL|OBE}} (1 May 1912 – 2 January 1986) was a New Zealand artist, printer, typographer, publisher and editor.
== Early life == Bensemenn was born in Tākaka on 1 May 1912, the son of Victor Bensemann, a blacksmith, and his wife, Ruby Arnold.<ref name="DNZB Bensemann">{{DNZB|title=Leo Vernon Bensemann|first=Peter |last=Simpson |id=4b23 |accessdate=23 April 2017}}</ref> He was educated at Nelson College from 1925 to 1930,<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 December 1924 |title=Nelson Education Board |access-date= |work=Nelson Evening Mail |pages=3}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |chapter=Full school list of Nelson College, 1856–2005 |title=Nelson College Old Boys' Register, 1856–2006 |year=2006 |edition=6th |type=CD-ROM}}</ref> and in 1931 moved to Christchurch with his friend Lawrence Baigent. In February 1938, Bensemann and Baigent moved to Christchurch and flatted in a house owned by the artist Sydney Thompson at 97 Cambridge Terrace.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Halliday |first=J |date=2008 |title=Who was H Courtney Archer? |journal=Architectural History Aotearoa |issue=5 |pages=55–64.}}</ref> Rita Angus also lived at the Cambridge Terrace address, which became a meeting place for the Christchurch art scene with people like Louise Henderson, Olivia Spencer Bower, Allen and Betty Curnow, Francis Shurrock, Frederick Page and Evelyn Page, Denis Glover and Douglas Lilburn regular visitors.<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 May 2015 |title=Viewing Rita Angus with Leo's eyes |url=https://christchurchartgallery.org.nz/blog/collection/2015/05/rita-angus-by-leo-bensemann |access-date=13 September 2024 |work=The Press}}</ref>
==Career== ===Printer and typographer=== In 1935, Denis Glover and John Drew set up the Caxton Press and in 1937 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 as a partner in 1937,<ref>{{Cite web |title=At Caxton Press |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/45927/at-caxton-press |access-date=13 September 2024}}</ref> and staying with the business until 1978.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Caffin |first=Elizabeth |title=Publishing – New publishers, 1930s and 1940s |url=http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/publishing/page-4 |access-date=13 September 2024 |website=Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand}}</ref> In 1960, with architect Peter Beavan, sculptor Tom Taylor and others, Bensemann helped form the New Zealand Design Association, "to develop and raise standards of design throughout the country".<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 October 1960 |title=City Men Form N.Z. Design Association |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19601025.2.136 |access-date=13 September 2024 |work=The Press (Christchurch) |pages=16}}</ref> Recognising the absence of a journal devoted to contemporary art, in 1966 Bensemann and Barbara Brooke produced five issues of art magazine ''Ascent''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ascent |url=https://christchurchartgallery.org.nz/about/library/ascent |access-date=13 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Simpson |first=Peter |title=Bensemann, Leo Vernon |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/4b23/bensemann-leo-vernon |access-date=6 August 2024 |website=Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand}}</ref> Art writer Ross Fraser congratulated ''Ascent'' on its ability to get their writers to push back and provide feedback good or bad.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Fraser |first=Ross |date=1968 |title=Ascent |journal=Landfall |volume=22 |issue=1 |pages=106–107}}</ref> Bensemann retained a strong interest in typography throughout his career at Caxton press and in 1969 was awarded a QEII Arts Council travel grant to Europe to study typography and graphic art.<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 January 1986 |title=Obituary Mr Leo Bensemann |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19860103.2.52 |access-date=13 September 2024 |work=The Press |pages=5}}</ref> After leaving the Caxton Press, Bensemann set up his own publishing house in 1978, producing several books under the imprint of The Huntsbury Press.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Black Arts |url=https://christchurchartgallery.org.nz/blog/behind-the-scenes/2011/07/the-black-arts |access-date=13 September 2024}}</ref>
===Artist=== thumb|Study for a portrait of Lieutenant Keith Elliott by Bensemann While flatting in Cambridge Terrace, and supported by Angus's nomination, Bensemann 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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Simpson |first=Peter |title=Bloomsbury South : the arts in Christchurch, 1933–1953 |year=2016 |isbn=9781869408480 |location=Auckland, New Zealand |oclc=945106039}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Exhibition of Paintings and Drawings by the 1938 Group 1938 |url=https://christchurchcitylibraries.com/Heritage/Publications/Art/TheGroup/pdfs/1938.pdf |access-date=13 September 2024 |website=Christchurch Libraries}}</ref> He continued to show regularly as a Group member and was represented in the final exhibition in 1977 with four paintings, this time all landscapes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Group |url=https://christchurchcitylibraries.com/Heritage/Publications/Art/TheGroup/pdfs/1977.pdf |access-date=13 September 2024 |website=Christchurch Libraries}}</ref> Bensemann was a regular exhibitor of paintings, caricatures and typography in both dealer galleries and public venues through to the 1980s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Leo Bensemann caricatures |url=https://christchurchartgallery.org.nz/search?q=Leo+Bensemann+caricatures |access-date=13 September 2024}}</ref> His work is represented in a number of public collections in New Zealand. The first painting to enter a public collection was ''Canterbury Spring'' (1961), purchased by the Robert McDougall Art Gallery the same year it was painted.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Simpson |first=Peter |title=Bensemann Centenial |url=https://christchurchartgallery.org.nz/mygallery/8lb5m |access-date=13 September 2024}}</ref>
=== Solo exhibitions === Bensemann's solo exhibitions included: * '''1972''' ''Leo Bensemann Retrospective'' Rue Pompallier Gallery Akaroa. 38 paintings from 1936 to 1972. Critic G.T.M described Bensemann as one of the early artists who, ‘began to “see” New Zealand rather than just “look” at it.’<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 March 1972 |title=Exhibition by Leo Bensemann |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19720322.2.104 |work=The Press (Christchurch) |pages=15}}</ref> * '''1979''' ''Leo Bensemann'' Brooke Gifford Gallery, Christchurch<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 June 1979 |title=“Cathy at Schaumburg", a painting by Leo Bensemann in his exhibition at the Brooke-Gifford Gallery |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19790609.2.158.1 |access-date=13 September 2024 |work=The Press (Christchurch) |pages=23}}</ref> * '''1981''' ''Leo Bensemann: Drawings'' Brooke Gifford Gallery, Christchurch<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 August 1981 |title=Two attractive exhibitions |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19810811.2.97.13 |access-date=13 September 2014 |work=The Press (Christchurch) |pages=20}}</ref> * '''2011''' ''Leo Bensemann: A Fantastic Art Venture'' Christchurch Art Gallery. The exhibition was only open for 12 days closing prematurely when Christchurch suffered a major earthquake.<ref>{{Cite web |title=40 Years of Leo Bensemann |url=https://christchurchartgallery.org.nz/blog/behind-the-scenes/2012/03/40-years-of-leo-bensemann |access-date=13 September 2024}}</ref> * '''2025''' ''Leo Bensemann: Paradise Garden'' Christchurch Art Gallery Toi Wai Whetu “paintings based on the hills, beaches and intriguing karst rock formations that dominate Mohua Golden Bay”<ref>{{Cite web |title=Leo Bensemann: Paradise Garden |url=https://christchurchartgallery.org.nz/exhibitions/leo-bensemann-paradise-garden |access-date=13 September 2024}}</ref>
== Collections == Bensemann's work is held in public collections, including: * Christchurch Art Gallery<ref>{{cite web |url=https://christchurchartgallery.org.nz/collection/?q=Leo%20Bensemann |title=Leo Bensemann |website=Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhatū}}</ref> * Auckland Art Gallery<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aucklandartgallery.com/search/artworks?section=collection&artist=Leo+Bensemann |title=Artworks |website=Auckland Art Gallery}}</ref> * Dunedin Public Art Gallery<ref>{{cite web |url=https://collection.dunedin.art.museum/objects?query=Leo+Bensemann&facet=artist_search%3ABensemann%2C+Leo |title=Leo Bensemann |website=Dunedin Public Art Gallery}}</ref> * The Suter Art Gallery<ref>{{cite web |url=https://collection.thesuter.org.nz/objects?query=Leo+Bensemann&facet=object_types%3APainting |title=Leo Bensemann |website=The Suter Art Gallery}}</ref>
== Honours and awards == In the 1985 New Year Honours, Bensemann was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to art, literature and printing.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=49970 |date=31 December 1984 |page=2 |supp=2}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{The Group NZ}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bensemann, Leo}} Category:1912 births Category:1986 deaths Category:People educated at Nelson College Category:20th-century New Zealand male artists Category:New Zealand publishers (people) Category:New Zealand editors Category:New Zealand Officers of the Order of the British Empire Category:People from Tākaka Category:People associated with The Group (New Zealand art) Category:New Zealand printmakers Category:New Zealand illustrators Category:New Zealand typographers and type designers