Leonard Hessing

Early Life, Family and Training

Leonard Hessing was born on 13 March 1931 in Romania. He grew up in a household where art was a lived reality, being the son of the artist Perle Hessing. This early connection to creative practice shaped the direction of his own life. He eventually moved to Australia, residing in New South Wales from 1951 to 1965.

His hands were often occupied with the technical demands of various mediums. He worked as a painter, a printmaker, and an art teacher. These roles required a steady focus on the physical properties of his materials, whether working with oil on hardboard or developing prints. His practice was defined by this hands-on engagement with the tools of his trade.

Artistic Activity in Australia

During his time in New South Wales, Leonard Hessing worked as an abstract painter and printmaker. His practice involved a variety of media, including oil on hardboard and works using brush, ink, and charcoal. Between 1961 and 1968, he held five exhibitions across Australia. His presence in the local art scene was marked by these frequent showings and his work as an art teacher.

His life in Australia was shared with Mona Hessing, who was born Mona Johnston. She was a fibre artist and weaver. Together, they moved through the creative circles of the country during the mid-century period. While he focused on the precision of printmaking and the textures of abstract painting, she worked with large-scale textiles and weaving.

• The combatant (1957)
• The crooner (1959)

Key Works and Collections

The Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney holds a significant piece of his early output, a 1957 oil on hardboard titled The combatant. The work bears his signature and date in black ink in the lower right corner, noted as "Hessing 57". It remains part of the museum's permanent collection, though it is not currently on display.

His practice also extended to works on paper, such as the 1959 drawing The crooner. This piece was created using brush and ink along with charcoal. It was signed and dated "L. Hessing '59" in the lower right corner. This drawing was included in the Christmas Art Exhibition of 1959 at the Blaxland Gallery in Sydney.