Letters, papers, artworks, photographs and press cuttings on the painter and designer Alfred Wolmark

Alfred Wolmark was a painter whose range included figurative, landscape and graphic art. The papers and sketches in this collection reflect the various areas and influences in his life and work. The collection includes sketches, transcripts of his lectures, a diary, examples of posters and programmes designed by him, lists of his works, and correspondence with friends, associates and possible sitters.

Alfred Wolmark was born in Warsaw, Poland, and moved to England as a child in 1883. He studied at the Royal Academy Schools, where he won a silver medal for drawing, between 1895 and 1897. His first one-man show was at the Bruton Galleries in London in 1905. In 1911 he produced designs for Serge Diaghilev's ballets.
He married Bessie Tapper in 1911 and they had two sons and a daughter. In 1915 Wolmark was one of the founders of the Ben Uri Art Society, where a memorial exhibition was held in 1961. Wolmark was influenced by the Post-Impressionists and knew Henri Gaudier-Brzeska (who modelled a bust of him). He died in London in 1961. Biographical information is included in the exhibition catalogues, 'Alfred Wolmark, 1877-1961: Memorial Exhibition of Paintings' (Ben Uri Art Gallery, 1961) and 'Alfred Wolmark' (Fine Art Society, 1970).

Reference number TGA 721/26 has not been used.

Open. Access to all registered researchers.

Paper list available

The majority of the collection is available on microfiche.

Presented by Alfred Wolmark's son Eric Wolmark in 1972.

Letters from Wolmark can be found in the papers of Michael Sadler (TGA 8221). Three private view cards are held in the private view card collection and the Tate library holds numerous exhibition catalogues and volumes of 'Colour'. Papers relating to Wolmark are also held at the Imperial War Museum.