- 1942
- Born July 13 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- 1946-1960
- Privately tutored in art history, music appreciation, literature, history and religion until the age of 13, while also attending academic and art schools. Visited weekly with tutors at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archeology, the Philadelphia Art Museum, The Lessing Rosenwald Collection, and other private and public collections in New York, Boston, Baltimore, Wilmington, Washington D.C., Pittsburgh and, beginning in 1958, The Barnes Foundation in Merion, Pennsylvania.
- 1960
- Graduated from Friends Select High School. Invited to study at the Mundaline Jesuit Seminar in Libertyille, Illinois and have access to their extensive art collection and library from June to December 1960.
- 1961-1963
- Attended The Barnes Foundation, Merion, PA as a special student of Mlle. Violette de Mazia, Directress of the Foundation. Concentration of studies with Mlle. de Mazia and Mr. Barton Church concerned the development of the western European traditions of aesthetics, painting, sculpture, architecture and the decorative arts as evolving from the Florentine, Flemish and Venetian traditions. Also at this time serious study was given to West African sculpture and American Jazz.
- 1963-1965
- By direction of Mlle. de Mazia began first period of study in the arts in Paris. Extensively studied the works of art in The Louvre, Musee de Cluny, Musee de l’Homme, Musee d’Art Modern de la Ville de Paris, and other important museums, churches, archeological sites and private collections in France, as well as Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Austria and England.Was invited to live and be Scholar in Residence at the Trappist Monastery at Notre Dame de Grace Monastery in Normandy for nine months to study their extensive collection of medieval iron crucifixes and illuminated manuscripts. I was given a private tutor, Father Abe (Jean-Louis Cahn) who was later the private tutor to the Weill family’s children (Lazard Freres and Co.) Introduced to Peter Bramsen, Director of Atelier Clot, Bramsen and George, the first lithographic studio established exclusively for artistic purposes in 1896. There I met and worked with CoBrA artists including: Pierre Alechinsky, Asger Jorn, Corneille, Carl-Henning Pedersen and Ejiler Bille.
- 1965
- Directed to return to the United States by the Army and was subsequently rejected for service in Viet Nam for health reasons. My studies were interrupted. Practical necessity required employment. Was hired by Drexel Burnham & Co. in Philadelphia and became a stockbroker. Studied International Finance at the Wharton School (Univ. of Penna.) under special program from December 1965 to June 1968, when I was hired by Loeb Rhoades (42 Wall Street) to do arbitrage and option trading at their New York office.
- 1970-1976
- Was again able to devote full time to artistic activities. Returned to Paris and at Atelier Clot, Bramsen and George, created 4 editions of 20 lithographs each. Left Paris and lived and painted throughout the winter and spring in Cannes in the south of France. At the same time became involved in natural history studies. Returned to the United States and was hired by a venture capital company (Flo-Tech, Inc.) to work with an experimental printing process. The same venture capital company also involved me in two other experimental businesses engaged with medical and dental instruments which was the first to develop the portable doppler ultrasonic blood flow meter.
- 1976-1978
- Returned to Paris and created 12 distinct editions of woodcuts and lithographs at Atelier Clot. Was invited by the government of Holland to do experimental ceramics at their studio “Structure 69” in the Hague.
- 1979-1981
- Returned to Pennsylvania and with venture capital company established graphic press for printing etchings, drypoints, woodcuts and monotypes. With Frank Williams as “imprimeur” created a series of portraits of African-Americans of prominence in art and history: Malcolm X, Charlie Parker, Thelonius Monk, James Baldwin, Miles Davis, Paul Robeson, and others.
- 1982
- Established a studio in Lambertville, New Jersey specializing in ceramic molds for large production. Received commission from Manhattan Industries for 1600 ceramic vessels in 16 shapes.
- 1983
- Moved to Charleston, South Carolina to work in stoneware at the Daes Studio and lectured at The College of Charleston in art history and the history of Soviet-American relations during World War II. Began the first extensive trip to the Peoples’ Republic of China. By approval of the U.S. and Chinese governments was asked to work near Guangdong at the only experimental ceramic studio in South-eastern China. Before decision was made I traveled throughout China and then returned to the United States. After thorough investigation and consultation under the direction of Citibank and CFO Donald S. Howard, who I met in China, decided to focus ceramic activity in Taiwan, where the quality of craftsmanship and efficiency was infinitely more refined than on the Mainland. An additional reason for choosing Taiwan is the presence there of The National Palace Museum and the Imperial collection, where I had a letter of introduction to the Director and Curator, Dr. Chin Chou Yee from The Director of the Archives of The Museum of Art of the Smithsonian Institution, Dr. R. Wattenmaker. Through an important Chinese collector, Mr. Hwoo Tang Ching, I became associated with the Hsu family,owners of The China Art Ceramic Studio in Ying Ko (south of Taipei). I was accepted by the family and at their studio created over 100 porcelain objects ranging in size from 7 inches and 6 1/2 feet. All objects were colored in underglaze.
- 1988
- Returned to New York and created and managed Prairie Resources Inc., an environmental company engaged in the transportation of municipal solid waste from New York City, Long Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts to landfills in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. The company was started with minimal capital investment and after 12 months was doing $1,000,000 per month in revenue. Company was closed in October 1993 due to change in state pricing policies.
- 1993
- Returned to Paris and established a relationship with Gallery Vallois (40 Rue de Seine). Two exhibitions of 35 porcelains created in Taiwan were planned and realized for an exhibition at “The Salon de Mars” and at Gallery Vallois, following the Salon exhibit, from March through May 1994.
- 1994-1996
- While living in Paris at this time, completed 25 Livre d’Artiste, each containing 12 etchings, aquatints and drypoints together with accompanying essay, done in collaboration with Atelier Tazé. All texts were hand set. The containers were designed and made by Atelier Duvalle. Edition to be named “It Is Now early May”. Editions Clot gave an exhibition of this work in June and then I returned to the United States. The Livre d’Artiste was shown to the Smithsonian and added to their collection along with an exhibition of the work at the Museum of American Art of the Smithsonian from June through September 1995.
- In July 1994 received commission from The Philadelphia Stock Exchange to create two paintings and 250 accompanying graphic works that would reflect my interpretation of the world financial markets of which their products were a major part. Finally in my life, art and finance are combined in one format.
- In early November 1994 met with Charles L. Blockson, Curator of the Blockson Afro-American Collection (Library) of Temple University in Philadelphia, with the idea to create a major Livre d’Artiste of portraits and writings of prominent African American historical and contemporary jazz artists. At Mr. Blockson’s intense insistence the scope of the project was broadened to include African American personalities both well known and obscure whose contributions to history, civil rights and culture were outstanding. Mr. Blockson accepted to be my tutor for this project. By June 1995 the first stage of the tutorial was completed.
- In June 1995, received commission from Gallery Vallois, Paris, to create at The China Art Ceramic Studio (Ying Ko, Taiwan) two 10 feet high molded “totems”. Arrangements made to return to Taiwan. Returned to Taiwan and started work on Vallois commission while also completed in next six months 26 African American portraits for the proposed Livre d’Artiste. Wrote 150 pages of text and read biographical and historical material selected by Mr. Blockson. Commissioned while in Taiwan to create ten large (4′ diameter) porcelain chargers commemorating the 70th anniversary of The National Palace Museum’s relocation to Taiwan with an exhibition of 70 masterpieces loaned from The Louvre. Completed 3 of 10 chargers — technical problems plagued the project.
- 1995
- Gave four lectures on Western traditions of aesthetics and painting at National Palace Museum during exhibition from The Louvre. Translator needed. Returned to the United States in February to complete the text and design format for the proposed Livre d’Artiste (now called “19 African Americans — The Known and the Obscure”). Requested and received from the Director of The Archives of American Art (Smithsonian), Dr. R. Wattenmaker, an introductory 3000 word essay as well as an extensive preface by Charles L. Blockson for project on African Americans. Received commission from The Philadelphia Stock Exchange to create original work of art in situ on silk in an edition of 250 printed silk scarves by FRANGI s.p.a. of Como, Italy.
- 1997
- Moved to Cape Vincent, NY on St. Lawrence River. Worked on projects, painted, wrote and traded private portfolio. Returned to Italy to work on silk projects. Completed FRANGI commission. Signed longterm agreement with The Barnes Foundation, Merion, PA to create translate and reproduce the images from The Foundation’s collection on fabric with full undiluted creative license. Under this agreement I have the right to market my own creations along with The Barnes Foundation/L.L. Hoffman images.
- 1998
- Moved to Paris to work on The Barnes Foundation project and African American project. Completed first stage of Barnes project: 250 silks of 16 colors each measuring 30″ x 48″. Returned to Italy to work on first part of triptyque of “Christ on Cross”. Returned to Cape Vincent, NY. Finished the complete format for “19 African American” Livre d’Artiste. Accepted offer to create and design (in collaboration with Mr. Frank Williams, NYC) a book for The American Museum of Hand Weaving of Clayton, NY of masterpieces from their collection of 20,000 objects. Book completed and published August 2000. Donated seven rare ancient Peruvian and other woven objects to the collection. Continued painting and private investments and trading for my own portfolio.
- 2004
- Private investments. Painting. Moved to Angola, Delaware to recuperate from a series of serious illnesses. While in Delaware met an elderly gentleman — now deceased — soon to be a friend, who was associated with the US Naval Academy and Johns Hopkins University. I was involved in 20th century Russian history at this time and was invited by this gentleman to give 4 lectures at the above mentioned institutions on “Stalin 1910-1953”. I did so and loved the experiences.
- 2008
- Moved to Philadelphia for further medical treatment and into a wonderful studio and apartment near the University of Pennsylvania (near my Doctors). Painting and painting all the time, and with the most generous support of Mr. Rich Bassi (President of Rebco Construction Co.) was able to work undisturbed.
- 2009
- Had medical crisis. One month in hospital, one year recuperation. Painted during this time.
- 2011
- Painting all the time and planning with Mr. Frank Williams of NYC to create in collaboration unique monotypes while also planning a potential exhibition in NYC. Also working with Mr. Bassi and Mr. Jeffrey Smith of Dallas, Texas trading finished goods in an arbitrage environment. Art and trading and monotypes — an odd but interesting “liaison”.
In Memory of Lee Hoffman on his Birthday
Born July 13, 1942
Died July 8, 2014
Our dear friend Leonard Lee Hoffman of Philadelphia, PA has sadly, suddenly passed on Tuesday. He is survived by his nephew Ryan Hoffman and his family of Colorado. Also survived by his closest friends, Frank Williams of New York City, Donald S. Howard of Little Silver, NJ, and Richard Bassi of Hoboken, NJ, as well as Jeff Smith of Dallas, TX, and Nick Lieb of Montana and Alex Lieb of Philadelphia, PA.
Lee was a scholar and an artist of incredible talent and a true Renaissance man who will be deeply missed. He was an inspiration to us all; a loving, caring and creative man. May he Rest in Peace now. God Bless. We will always love him and he will always be in our hearts.
“To live in hearts we leave behind
Is not to die.”
~Thomas Campbell
