Michael FLEISCHER archives

Born 1915 in Cluj-Napoca (Klausenburg), Transylvania, Romania, studied art at the Scoala de Arte si Meserii, Turda (Thorenburg), Romania, where he was awarded as best student a gold medal for sculpture. He then received from the German Consulate in Klausenburg a semester bursary to further his studies in Stuttgart. WW2 broke out, he became a P.O.W., then remained in Germany refusing to return to the by then communist Romania. He built himself a studio, concentrating on metal sculptures, and held a number of exhibitions in Germany.

In 1962, out of three artists proposed by the "Berufsverband Bildender Künstler", Munich, to the South African Government who were searching for a metal sculptor to execute large murals for the Parliamentary Building in Windhoek, he was the only sculptor selected. This was followed by a few public and private commissions, Michael Fleischer moving to Johannesburg.

Michael Fleischer married Tessa Fleischer née Laubscher - their daughter is Mara.

Michael Fleischer died at his home in Kalkheuvel, Broederstroom, on 3rd November, 1991

1971 Gallery 101, Rand Central, Johannesburg ("Mother and Child" theme) (5th April)

"The Duet" in cast stone - 2m high - coll. Trude Schuster, Düsseldorf Altstadt

(Otto and Trude Schuster opened the "Künstlertreff" Restaurant "Csikós" in 1950, and in 1977/78 acquired this work from the artist to be placed in the gardens of the Düsseldorf Altstadt (info: The Star, 30th January, 1978, p.3)

Michael Fleischer stamped his bronzes with a monogram made out of F + M and included the cast number and edition.

Bronzes exhibited at Gallery 101 in 1974 were all numbered in an edition of 6, except for 4 works in an edition of 4, one was numbered ed. 10. Bronzes exhibited at Gallery 21 in 1977 were numbered as follows: 9 in an edition of 8, 10 in an edition of 6, 1x ed. 4, 16 in an edition of 12. Lists can be made available on request.

Press and Other Publications

ARTLOOK 24 Johannesburg - November, 1968, p. 5, ill.

ARTLOOK 35 Johannesburg - October, 1969, p. 33, ill.

Rand Daily Mail, Johannesburg - 13th November, 1969, ill.

ARTLOOK 54 Johannesburg - May, 1971, p. 45, ill.

"Mother and child", abt. 1970, cast stone

ARTLOOK 70 Johannesburg - September, 1969, p. 26, ill.

News/Check, Johannesburg - January 1971, p., 37, ill.

The Winter Art Exhibition 1971 - Group 51 - June 1971, cat.

Sandton Chronicle, Sandton - September, 1972, pp. 12-13, ill.

Sandton Chronicle, Sandton - End November, 1972, ill.

Rand Daily Mail, Johannesburg - 12th July, 1974, ill.

Rand Daily Mail, Johannesburg - 19th July, 1974

The Star, Johannesburg - 22nd July, 1974, ill.

ARTLOOK 98 Johannesburg - December 1975 / January 1976, p. 13, ill.

The Star, Johannesburg - 30th January, 1978, ill.

Sunday Express "Better Living", Johannesburg - 26th February, 1978, ill.

Siebenbürgische Zeitung SbZ, München - 31. Oktober 1980, Folge 17, S.3 (Über zwei in Südafrika lebende Siebenbürger ..)

Rand Daily Mail, Johannesburg - 16th April, 1981, ill.

Style, Johannesburg – June 1983, pp. 90-97, ill.

"Art & artists of South Africa" (Berman) (Balkema), 1983, p.526

The Star, Johannesburg - 6th May, 1986

ERA - September, 1986, ill.

Citizen, Johannesburg - 28th March, 1987

Citizen, Johannesburg - 21st April, 1987

Sunday Times Magazine "Lifestyle", Johannesburg - 6th September, 1987, pp. 55-57+, ill.

The Star, Johannesburg - 27th May, 1988, ill.

„The Dictionary of South African Painters and Sculptors including Namibia“ (Ogilvie / Graff) (Everard Read), 1988 – ISBN 0 620 12663 9 – listed on p. 226/227

Transvaler, Johannesburg - 3rd January, 1989, ill.

Beeld, Johannesburg - 7th November, 1991

The Star, Johannesburg (Obituary) - 18th November, 1991, ill.

South African Country Life - January 1996, pp.26-31, ill.

Organizer of annual “Living Arts Biennale” exhibitions held in Johannesburg since 1967, such as 1971 (Selborne Hall), 1972 (Carlton Centre), 1976 (Rand Afrikaans University).

The 1972 exhibition (17 SA artists and 8 from abroad) was held to raise funds for the Michael Mount Waldorf School, Bryanston, Johannesburg.

Michael and Tessa Fleischer first lived at Beverley Agricultural Holdings in Witkoppen north of Johannesburg

Illustrated in Sandton Chronicle, Sandton, September 1972 - click on image for a better view!