Jazz-inspired art of Lee Hoffman on exhibit Oct. 12-15
Jazz-inspired paintings, hangings and ceramics by Lee Hoffman (1942-2014), a true Renaissance man, a scholar and artist of incredible talent and creativity will be on display at Cape Henlopen High School during the Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival events Thursday-Sunday, Oct. 12-15. Hoffman’s work is represented in selected collections all over the world including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Smithsonian Museum of American Art in Washington, D.C.
Hoffman began his artistic journey at The Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia as a special student of Mlle. Violette de Mazia, directress of the foundation, from 1958 to 1963. His concentration of studies concerned the development of the western European traditions of aesthetics, painting, sculpture, architecture and the decorative arts as evolving from the Florentine, Flemish and Venetian traditions.
After this time, Hoffman gave serious study to West African sculpture and American jazz. Throughout his life, he produced many unique and distinct editions of lithographs, etchings, drypoints, woodcuts and monotypes, and created over 100 porcelain objects. This special exhibit, the first time shown in the area, includes over 20 hanging works including portraits of Thelonius Monk, Duke Ellington and Charlie Parker plus jazz-inspired porcelain ceramic pieces.
Hoffman moved to Lewes in 2004 and continued to paint and draw every day. In 2008, he returned to Philadelphia and continued his work. He died unexpectedly in 2014, leaving a huge body of work as his legacy. For more information on the artist, or to view Hoffman's collection of available art for sale, go to leehoffmanart.com.
