George Claude Leon Underwood

About

Leon Underwood was a British sculptor, painter, printmaker, draughtsman, engraver, teacher, writer, and philosopher, recognized as a precursor of modern sculpture in Britain. Born in Shepherd's Bush, London, he studied at Regent Street Polytechnic School of Art (1907-1910), Royal College of Art, and Slade School of Fine Art. During World War I, he served in the Royal Engineers' Camouflage Section, using his artistic skills to disguise observation posts. He won the British Prix de Rome in 1920, held his first solo exhibition at Chenil Gallery in 1922, and taught at the Royal College of Art until 1923, when he traveled to Paris, Iceland, Spain (visiting Altamira caves in 1925), the United States, Mexico, and later Africa. In 1921, he founded the Brook Green School in Hammersmith, where he taught printmaking and sculpture, influencing artists like Henry Moore.

Influenced by Impressionism, Surrealism, primitive African and Cycladic art; focused on spirituality, folklore, human figure with abstract and primitive elements