George Bergen 1903-1984

George Bergen was born in Minsk, Russia. His family settled in Brooklyn, in 1909 and they were granted citizenship 10 years later. Bergen studied at various New York art schools, was then taught by George Bellows at the School of Fine Arts, Yale University and in 1925 crossed the Atlantic on a Yale travelling scholarship. Held his first solo show at Goupil Gallery in the late 1920's. Then another at Lefevre in 1932. Also showed at Agnew and Leicester Galleries. Bergen was by then entangled artistically and emotionally with the Bloomsbury Group.Lived for some time in California where he was friendly stars such as Charles Chaplin, whom he painted. In 1939 settled in New York, but his connections with Bloomsbury painters were renewed in the 1960s. In 1988 Sally Hunter Fine Art held a show 'George Bergen and Bloomsbury'. His work is represented in a number of public galleries. For examples of Bergen's work in British public art galleries - click here Art UK