MIERINS, Laimonis

Abstract painter, Laimonis Mierins (or Lem to his students) was born Latvia in 1929 and came to England in 1947 as a political refugee and settled in Shipley. He died in 2011.

When he first came to England he worked in agriculture, and then in local textile industries and attended evening and weekend classes at Bradford College of Art.  Laimonis later recalled that a fellow art student was David Hockney, who had said to him, ‘You know, you’re really quite good. You ought to go to art school. You’ve got real potential’ (see ‘source’, below, p.10).

Laimonis took Hockney’s advice. From Bradford, he studied for a NDD (National Diploma in Design) at Leeds College of Art (1960-64), then at Goldsmiths College, London, for his ATC (Art Teacher’s Certificate), awarded to him in 1965.

In 1965 he returned to teach at Jacob Kramer Art School, now Leeds College of Art, where he taught life drawing and was well-regarded by his students for his inspirational and eccentric teaching style. He retired from teaching in 1994. In 2004 he was awarded a Anglavs Eglitis and Veronika Janelsins Foundation, California, USA, prize for his life long activity in abstract painting.

‘Red Rain’. Image: Beverley Art Gallery

His work has been exhibited widely in Britain, and overseas in Germany, USA, Australia and Latvia. In 1995 there was a retrospective exhibition of his work at the State Art Museum in Riga, Cartwright Hall, Bradford, and at the Barbican Centre, in London.  Another retrospective exhibition was held in 2005 at Riga, and later in Barnsley at the Portfolio Gallery and in 2006 at Sewerby Hall, Bridlington.  He also had a solo show at the Curwen Gallery, London, in 2000.

‘Abstract’. Image: Bradford Museums & Galleries

His work was characterised by its bold colours and intersecting structures, and can be found at public art galleries at Bury, Beveley, Sewerby Hall, Bridlington, the University of Leeds, University of York and in the Bradford Museums and Galleries Art Collection.

He wrote of his art:

To paint or draw is to think with colour and form. Thus visual ideas and emotions are expressed which are not possible in any other discipline … I draw quickly.  I enjoy complicated angles, the more complicated the better …  I just want to work quickly and get it over with.  It’s a spontaneous thing.  Six or seven attempts, and then I am at peace.  I cannot concentrate myself any longer than that.

‘Shipley’. Image: Bradford Museums & Art Galleries

Source: ‘Laimonis Mierins’. Retrospective Exhibition Catalogue (2005). Riga Gallery, Riga, Latvia. ISBN 190012355.

See also: ‘My Art’ at Laimonis Mierins

See also Pingback link below.