A Life of Music and Visual Art
Bruno Lenz was a German painter and violinist who lived a life deeply rooted in the arts. Born in Bollenbach, in the Black Forest, he was the son of a teacher. His musical journey began with violin lessons in Freiburg im Breisgau, later studying under Jules Siber, Gösta Andrasson, Georg Kulenkampff, and Max Strub. His artistic devotion emerged early, with his first portrait drawings dating back to 1924. He received formal painting instruction from Theodor Schück, Otfried Nies, Otto Vittali, and Arthur Braun, with Julius Bissier exerting a decisive influence on his development.
Lenz's professional musical career was distinguished; he served as the assistant concertmaster for the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra for twenty years under conductors such as Eugen Jochum and Rafael Kubelík. After concluding his orchestral career in 1970, he transitioned to a role as a lecturer at the Richard-Strauss-Konservatorium München.
Exhibitions and Portraits
The artist's visual works were showcased in numerous prestigious venues, including the Kunstverein Freiburg, the Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus in Munich, and the Haus der Kunst. His exhibitions spanned various locations, including Offenburg, Konstanz, and a solo exhibition at the Wolfgang Gurlitt Gallery. In 1983, he received an invitation to the Villa Massimo in Rome.
As a portrait painter, Lenz captured the likenesses of several public figures, including:
His legacy is preserved through the Bruno-Lenz-Foundation and works exhibited in the "Haus der Musik" in Haslach.
