Ben Uri Research Unit

for the study and digital recording of the Jewish, Refugee and wide Immigrant contribution to British visual culture since 1900.


Alec Pecker artist

Alec Pecker was born in Russia in 1893. He immigrated to Britain, where he studied etching at St. Martin's School of Art and the Central School of Arts and Crafts. Renowned for his portraits and figure studies, he exhibited widely, including at the Royal Academy and Ben Uri Gallery.

Born: 1893 Russia

Died: 1975 London, England

Year of Migration to the UK: 1920

Other name/s: Elia Pekaroff, Alec M. Pecker, A. M. Pecker


Biography

Artist Alec Pecker (né Elia Pekaroff) was born in Russia on 2 September 1893. After immigrating to Britain, he studied etching and drawing at St. Martin's School of Art under William Palmer Robins and Malcolm Osborne, and at the Central School of Arts and Crafts. In 1926, when he was naturalised as a British subject, records show that he was living in Shepherd's Bush, London. Pecker hailed from a talented family involved in the arts. His sister, Celia Lipzin, was an actress in Yiddish theatre, and his brother, Boris Pecker, was a violinist associated with the BBC. In 1931, the Jewish Chronicle announced Pecker's engagement to Rosa Hayman, daughter of Eugenie and the late Salomon Hayman.

Pecker became best known for his etchings, which captured portraits and figure studies with great detail and sensitivity.Throughout his career, he exhibited under the name ‘Alec M. Pecker’ at prestigious institutions, including the Royal Academy of Arts, Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours, Royal Society of British Artists, and the Royal Society of Portrait Painters. He also showcased his work at the renowned Leicester Galleries in London, and internationally. During the 1940s and early 1950s, he exhibited a number of times with the Ben Uri Gallery. In 1948, his work was part of a painting event held in the art competition at the Summer Olympics in London. Alec Pecker died in London, England on 30 March 1975. In the UK public domain, his work is represented in the collection of the British Museum.

Related books

  • ‘Three Arts’, The Jewish Chronicle, 1 February 1952, p. 6
  • The Jewish Chronicle, 31 July 1931, p. i

Public collections

Related organisations

  • Central School of Arts and Crafts (student)
  • St. Martin's School of Art (student)

Related web links

Selected exhibitions

  • Royal Academy of Arts, London (1969)
  • Summer Exhibition by Contemporary Jewish Artists, Ben Uri Gallery, London (1952)
  • Annual Exhibition of Contemporary Jewish Painters and Sculptors, Ben Uri Gallery, London (1950)
  • Spring Exhibition of Painting, Sculpture and Drawings by Contemporary Jewish Artists, Ben Uri Gallery, London (1947)
  • Exhibition of Painting and Sculpture by Contemporary Jewish Artists, Ben Uri Gallery, London (1946)
  • Subjects of Jewish Interest: Paintings, Sculpture and Drawings, Ben Uri Gallery, London (1946)
  • Royal Academy of Arts, London (1938, 1935, 1933, 1929)