XLVI VENICE BIENNALE
Kossoff, together with Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud, Frank Auerbach, RB Kitaj and Michael Andrews is one of the group of senior British painters collectively known as the School of London. In this context his work had been seen in major museum shows in Europe, but the British pavilion exhibition provided the first opportunity for his paintings to be seen in depth in a solo show outside Britain. The exhibition concentrated on his recent works, including paintings from the last decade. The subjects, which have remained constant throughout the artist’s long career, are all present in the exhibition: portraits of family and regular sitters, nudes and most specifically, the city of London, its people, buildings, underground stations and railways. The exhibition consisted of paintings from the mid 1980s to 1995 selected by David Sylvester. A fully illustrated catalogue with a statement about his work by the artist, an essay by David Sylvester, a short text by Rudi Fuchs and an introduction by Andrea Rose was published to accompany the exhibition. ISBN 0 86355 291 9 (English text) 086355 292 7 (Italian text). The catalogue text, with an additional piece by Raimund Stecker, was subsequently published by the Kunsteverin, Dusseldorf (German only). ISBN 3 925974 46 6
Further reading
Britain at the Venice Biennale 1895-1996, edited by Sophie Bowness and Clive Phillpot, The British Council, London 1995. ISBN 0 86355 283 p>
