Leon Bronstein

Leon Bronstein (born July 20, 1951) is an Israeli sculptor.

Life

Bronstein was born July 20, 1951 in Tiraspol, Moldova. He graduated from the Tiraspol Technicum (College) after completing his studies in the field of Engineering. During his last years in USSR, he worked as a watchmaker. In 1979, Bronstein “made aliyah” (immigration) with his family to Israel, first residing in Or Akiva where he studied Hebrew in the Ulpan. Currently, he lives and works in the artist’s village of Ein Hod. He is married to Berta (Betty) and they have 3 children.

Career

Bronstein specializes in semi-abstract stile of Art, using bronze as his preferred medium. Initially, he started his sculpting career using wood as a medium. He worked with olive wood for several years. He began working in the sculpting department of “Touch Wood," a former factory manufacturing hand-made sculptures and memorabilia for tourists. After the factory closed he began his independent career as a sculptor. Bronstein’s first art exhibit took place in 1985 in New York’s Art Expo. He presented his work there, among other artists such as Alex Katz. After his first exhibition, he received an offer to be part of the permanent exhibition at the Emil Leonard Gallery in Soho, New York, US. In 1985, Bronstein began to use bronze exclusively, with his first sculptures being presented in the E.S. Lawrence Gallery in Aspen, Colorado, and Los Angeles, US In 1991, Bronstein was invited by the Minister of Culture of the USSR to exhibit his work in the International Russian Culture Foundation in Moscow, Soviet Union. In 2001, his sculpture “To the Sky” was installed in the entrance to Terminal 1 at Ben-Gurion International Airport in Israel. An additional sculpture cast of “To the Sky” is located in the headquarter of Larson-Juhl Corporation in Atlanta, Georgia, US. In 2002, he exhibited at the Triton Museum of Art in Santa Clara, California, US In 2004, the sculpture “Caring Hands” was installed in the Saint Louis Public Health Centre. In 2012, he participated in “Muse”, an outdoor sculptures exhibit, in Mamilla Avenue, Jerusalem. In 2016, his statue “Exercises” was installed in the entrance to Ein Hod, an artist’s village in Israel. A twin statue of “Exercises” is located at Northland College, Wisconsin. In 2018, the sculpture “Starry Starry Night” was installed in the Denver Botanic Gardens, Colorado, US In 2020, an exhibition of Bronstein’s work took place at SLUMA, the Saint Louis University Museum of Art, Missouri, US. His sculpture “Sharing the Same Thoughts” was installed at the entrance to the museum. This exhibition is currently presented at the Caithlyn Gallery in Saint Louis, MO, US.

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

Bronstein presents his work in many international exhibitions.

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2020 SLUMA – Saint Louis Museum of Art, St. Louis, MO, US. 2015 Mary Martin Gallery, Charleston, SC, US. 2015 Olly Garden, Ein-Hod, Israel. 2009 The “Olive Press Gallery”, Ein-Hod, Israel. 2007 E.S. Lawrence Gallery, Aspen CO, US. 2002 Triton Museum of Art Santa Clara, CA, US. 2001 Caithlyn Gallery, St. Louis, MO, US. 2000 Caithlyn Gallery, St. Louis, MO, US. 1999 Caithlyn Gallery, St. Louis, MO, US. 1999 E.S. Lawrence Gallery, Aspen CO, US. 1999 The Old City Caesarea Gallery, Caesarea, Israel. 1998 Caithlyn Gallery, St. Louis, MO, US. 1997 Caithlyn Gallery, St. Louis, MO, US. 1991 International Russian Cultural Foundation, Moscow, U.S.S.R. 1991 C.G. Rein Galleries, Edina, MN, US. 1991 The Willow Gallery, SOHO, NY, US. 1990 Artist Village, Ein-Hod, Israel. 1989 The Beachwood Museum, Cleveland, OH, US. 1989 Emil Leonard Gallery, SOHO, NY, US. 1987 Adam Art Center, Long Island, NY, US. 1986 Art Gallery of Harbor Citadel Caesarea, Israel. 1984 The Midtown Gallery Washington DC, US. 1982 Art Gallery of Harbor Citadel Caesarea, Israel.

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2018 Lahaina Galleriesת Newport Beach California, US 2016 Lahaina Galleriesת Newport Beach California, US 2014 The Saint Louis University Museum of Art, Saint Louis MO, US. “THE DREAM” – The Winter Family Collection and the Dreamer 2010 SOFA NY, New York, US. 2009 SOFA CHICAGO, Chicago IL, US. 2009 SOFA WEST, Santa Fe NM, US. 2007 Art Shanghai, Shanghai, China. 2007 SOFA NEW YORK, NY, US. 2007 SOFA CHICAGO, Chicago IL, US. 2006 SOFA NEW YORK, NY, US. 2006 SOFA CHICAGO, Chicago IL, US. 2005 Art Miami, Miami Fl, US. 2005 SOFA NEW YORK, NY, US. 2005 SOFA CHICAGO, Chicago IL, US. 2004 Art Miami, Miami FL, US. 2004 SOFA NEW YORK, NY, US. 2004 SOFA CHICAGO, Chicago IL, US. 2003 SOFA NEW YORK, NY, US. 2003 SOFA CHICAGO, Chicago IL, US. 2002 Art Miami International, Miami, FL, US. 2001 Art Miami International, Miami, FL, US. 1999 Art21 Las Vegas, NV, US. 1999 ArteBA, Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA 1998 Art-98, Vancouver, Canada. 1995 Art Americas Miami, FL, US. 1994 Art Multiple, Dusseldorf, Germany. 1994 Art Miami International, Miami, FL, US. 1992 TIAS-Tokyo, Int. Art Show, Tokyo, Japan.

SELECTED WORKS

"Exercises" - Ein Hod Artist’s Village. "Take a Bite" - Ein Hod Artist’s Village. "Thank You Stars" "Temptation" "Dialog" "Sharing the Same Thoughts" - SLUMA, Saint Louis University Museum of Art. "Caring Hands" - SLUMA, Saint Louis University Museum of Art. "Jumping into the Water" - SLUMA, Saint Louis University Museum of Art. "Starry Starry Night" - Denver Botanic Gardens, Colorado. "To the Sky" - Larson-Juhl Corporation, Atlanta, Georgia. "Central Forward" - Hadera, Israel.

References

• The Winter Family Collection, Leon Bronstein, Between the Real and the Fantastic, St Louis University MUSEUM of ART https://www.leonbronstein.com/between-the-fantastic-and-the-real/ • Miriam Or Dr. Art Historian and Art Critic, LEON BRONSTEIN - The Magic World Of Sculpture https://www.leonbronstein.com/the-magic-world-of-sculpture/