Louis Kahan is one of Australia’s best loved portraitists, although his work covered a much wider field than portraiture, including such things as stage décor design for the National Theatre and the Australian Ballet.
Born in Vienna, he arrived in Australia in 1947. His art studies included the Acadamie Colarossi in Paris, and the Hornsey College Of Art, London (stained glass making).
His first trade was as a master tailor in Paris. During world war II he served for a time with the French Foreign Legion, and during the years 1942 to 1945 as a war artist in North Africa, often drawing portraits of wounded soldiers because photographing them was not allowed. In the early 1950s he studied again in London and Paris.
Over the years Kahan held many solo shows to great public acclaim. His numerous prizes and awards included the Archibald Prize in 1962.
Works by Kahan are held by all State Galleries, many regional galleries, and of course corporate and private collections here and overseas.