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Rudolf (Rudi) Lehmann, Israeli sculptor, 1903-1977, born in Germany

Rudi Lehmann was born in Berlin. In 1917-1922, he studied mechanics and worked as an apprentice for a blacksmith. In 1922-1924, he studied woodcarving and sculpture with sculptor Harold Isenstein. In 1924-1928, he attended the municipal arts and crafts school in Berlin, where he studied sculpture and ceramics. There he met his future wife, Hedwig Grossman. In 1928-1930, he worked for Holzmann's Stone Mason and Carving company. After that, he worked as a freelance stonemason and sculptor at museums around Germany, including the Pergamon Museum in Berlin. He also worked in terra cotta at Hedwig's ceramics workshop and taught at an art school.

In the summer of 1933, Lehmann immigrated to the Land of Israel with his wife and settled in Haifa. They set up a ceramics testing laboratory at the Technion in Haifa and then moved to Kibbutz Yagur in 1935, where they established a factory for flower-pots. In 1937, they opened a sculpture studio in Jerusalem, where Lehmann produced miniature carvings from olive wood, ivory, horn and gemstones that were sold to tourists.

In 1945-1947, Lehmann worked for the Haganah, building models and ballistic implements. In 1947-1948, he was a member of the Jewish Agency's Self-Defense Planning Committee. In 1953, he was one of the founding members of the Ein Hod Artists' Village, where he taught sculpture. In 1959, Lehmann and his wife moved to Givatayim where he established an art school under the auspices of the Givatayim municipality that offered courses in sculpture, woodcuts and ceramics to youth and adults.

Education

1912 Academy of Berlin, Germany, wood sculpture with Vordermeyer
1917 Berlin, Germany, blacksmithing and metalworking
1922-24 woodcarving and sculpture with sculptor Harold Isenstein
1923 Municipal High School for Art, Berlin, Germany, sculpture and ceramics
1924-28 Modern Art School, Berlin, Germany, sculpture and ceramics

Teaching

1923-25 Art School, Berlin Municipality, Germany
1934 Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem
1959 Studio in Givatayim, sculpture and ceramics

Awards And Prizes

1933 Dizengoff Prize for Painting and Sculpture, Municipality of Tel Aviv-Jaffa
1951 Dizengoff Prize for Painting and Sculpture, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Municipality of Tel Aviv-Jaffa
1953 Dizengoff Prize for Painting and Sculpture, Municipality of Tel Aviv-Jaffa
1966 Dizengoff Prize for Painting and Sculpture, Municipality of Tel Aviv-Jaffa