Helmar Lerski

About the Artist

Helmar Lerski. Amerikanischer Ingenieur (American engineer). 1913. Gelatin silver print, 9 1/4 x 7 1/4" (23.5 x 18.4 cm). Courtesy Ubu Gallery, New York & Galerie Berinson, Berlin. © Estate Helmar Lerski, Museum Folkwang, Essen
Alternate Name(s) Israel Schmuklerski (Birth Name)

Meeting Points

Cultural Hubs Berlin
Photo Industry Hubs Rochester
Schools Levy Gallery, 1931–49
Exhibitions Film und Foto, 1929
Publications Das deutsche Lichtbild, 1927–38

Artist Chronology

February 18, 1871	Born At location: Helmar Lerski	Strasbourg
1875	The Lerski family moves to Aussersihl At location: Helmar Lerski	Zurich
1888	Travels in North Africa At location: Helmar Lerski	Tripolis Tangiers
January 1893	Immigrates to the United States At location: Helmar Lerski	Chicago
1893–1909	Works as an actor in various theaters At location: Helmar Lerski	New York Milwaukee Chicago
1893	Performs in the German-language Pabst Theater at the World's Columbian Exposition At location: Helmar Lerski	Chicago
1896–97	Changes name to Helmar Lerski while working as an actor At location: Helmar Lerski	New York
1910–14	Establishes a photography studio At location: Helmar Lerski	Milwaukee
1910–14	Attends conventions of the Photographer's Association of America At location: Helmar Lerski	Saint Paul Kansas City Philadelphia
1911–12	Begins publishing photographs in local newspapers Contributor: Helmar Lerski	Milwaukee
1912	Exhibits at the annual convention of the Photographer's Association of America Participant: Helmar Lerski	Philadelphia
1913	Exhibition at the London Salon of Photography Participant: Helmar Lerski	London
1914–15	Lectures in the German department at the University of Texas At location: Helmar Lerski	Austin
1915	Portraits solo exhibition at Galerie der Grafik Verlag Participant: Helmar Lerski	Berlin
1915–31	Lives in Berlin At location: Helmar Lerski	Berlin
1916	Works as the manager of photographic operations for W.-W. Film Company; his photographs are used in company advertisements At location: Helmar Lerski	Berlin
1928	Returns to portraiture; photographs Berlin's elite and begins the series Köpfe des Alltags At location: Helmar Lerski	Berlin
May 1929	Publishes photographs in Münchner Illustrierte Zeitung Contributor: Helmar Lerski	Munich
May 18–July 7, 1929	Internationale Ausstellung des Deutschen Werkbunds Film und Foto (FiFo) at Städtische Ausstellungshallen Kunstgewerbemuseum, Zurich August 28–September 22, 1929 Im Lichthof des Ehemaligen Kunstgewerbemuseums, Prinz-Albrechs-Strasse 7, Berlin October 19–November 17, 1929 Stadtmuseum, Danzig (dates unknown) Österreichisches Museum, Vienna February 20–March 31, 1930 Agram, Zagreb April 5–14, 1930 Münchner Bund/Verein Ausstellungspark München E.V. (as part of Internationale Ausstellung. Das Lichtbild), Munich June 5–September 7, 1930 Asahi Shimbun, Tokyo April 1931 Asahi Shimbun, Osaka July 1–7, 1931 Participant: Berenice Abbott, Herbert Bayer, Aenne Biermann, Anton Bruehl, Francis Bruguière, Max Burchartz, Florence Henri, André Kertész, Germaine Krull, Helmar Lerski, El Lissitzky, Man Ray (Emmanuel Radnitzky), László Moholy-Nagy, Walter A. Peterhans, Albert Renger-Patzsch, Hans Richter, Aleksandr Rodchenko, Charles Sheeler, Edward Steichen, Maurice Tabard, Umbo (Otto Umbehr), Edward Weston, Lucia Moholy, Werner Rohde, George Hoyningen-Huene, Gustav Klutsis, Karl Blossfeldt, Heinz Loew, Erich Comeriner, Semyon Fridlyand, Roman Karmen, Eli Lotar, Oskar Nerlinger, Robert Petschow, Sasha Stone, Dziga Vertov, Yva (Else Simon), Willy Zielke, Irene Bayer-Hecht, Hans Finsler, Cami Stone Organizer: El Lissitzky, László Moholy-Nagy, Hans Richter, Edward Steichen, Edward Weston, Dziga Vertov Visitor: Alexander Hackenschmied	Stuttgart
1930	Gezeichnet oder Geknipst exhibition Participant: Helmar Lerski, Frieda Gertrud Riess, Yva (Else Simon)	Berlin
1930	Exhibits the Köpfe des Alltags series at the Kunstbibliothek Participant: Helmar Lerski	Berlin
1930	Corresponds with Albert Einstein about the state of the Jewish Community Einstein later wrote the introduction to Lerski's photographs At location: Helmar Lerski	Berlin
1930	Conceives of the Metamorphosis project At location: Helmar Lerski	Berlin
June–September 1930	Das Lichtbild exhibition Participant: Aenne Biermann, Bill Brandt, Max Burchartz, César Domela-Nieuwenhuis, Florence Henri, Lotte Jacobi, André Kertész, Germaine Krull, Helmar Lerski, Walter A. Peterhans, August Sander, Umbo (Otto Umbehr), Edward Weston, Lucia Moholy, Werner Rohde, Franz Roh, Marianne Breslauer, Alexander Hackenschmied, Edmund Kesting, Jean Moral, Willy Zielke, Lore Feininger, Hans Finsler	Munich
1931	Publishes Köpfe des Alltags; unbekannte Menschen Contributor: Helmar Lerski	Berlin
January 11–February 9, 1931	Die Neue Fotografie at the Kunstgewerbemuseum Participant: Berenice Abbott, Aenne Biermann, Florence Henri, Helmar Lerski, Werner Rohde, Hans Finsler	Basel
1931	Lives in Palestine for one year before returning to Zurich; becomes involved with Zionist activites At location: Helmar Lerski	Palestine
1932	Fotografien von Albert Renger-Patzsch, Umbo, Hugo Erfurth und Helmar Lerski at the St. Annen Museum Participant: Helmar Lerski, Albert Renger-Patzsch, Umbo (Otto Umbehr)	Lübeck
mid 1930s	Lives in Palestine and exhibits locally At location: Helmar Lerski	Palestine
1933	Dynamic Photography at the Divan Bookshop Participant: Helmar Lerski	Palestine
1936	Begins portrait series of a Jewish worker At location: Helmar Lerski	Tel Aviv
1937–39	Lives in London At location: Helmar Lerski	London
1938	Slide show of Metamorphosis through Light at the Academy Cinema At location: Helmar Lerski	London
1939–48	Lives in Palestine At location: Helmar Lerski	Palestine
1945	Exhibition of his Hand Portraits series Participant: Helmar Lerski	Tel Aviv
1946–47	Directs several films that address Jewish themes At location: Helmar Lerski	Palestine
1948–56	Lives in Zurich At location: Helmar Lerski	Zürich
November 29, 1956	Dies At location: Helmar Lerski	Zürich