Ben Uri Research Unit

Born: 1914 Kassel, Germany

Died: 2006 London, England

Year of Migration to the UK: 1937

Other name/s: Anneliese Emily Brauer, Annely Juda CBE

Biography

Art dealer Anneliese Emily Brauer was born on 23 September 1914 to a Jewish family in Kassel, Germany. Her father, Kurt Brauer, was an industrial chemist with an interest in Goethe’s theories of colour, while her mother, Margarete Goldmann, trained under artist Oskar Kokoschka and worked in fashion and design. Juda grew up immersed in culture, developing a love for museums, music, theatre, literature, and a lifelong passion for skiing. In 1933, as anti-Semitic policies intensified under the Nazi regime, Juda’s academic ambitions were curtailed; she was barred from university and her father’s laboratory was confiscated. Following his imprisonment and subsequent escape to Palestine, the family joined him, with Annely arriving in 1934. Although her father established a chemical factory in Jaffa, Juda found the environment restrictive and provincial.

In 1937, seeking new opportunities, she moved to London with only £1 to her name and began working at a lodging house for German refugees in Hampstead (an area of northwest London popular with German-speaking émigrés) in exchange for her keep. With savings from her additional work as a maid, she enrolled in art history and fashion design classes at the Reimann School of Art and Design (a progressive, Jewish owned institution), which had relocated from Berlin to London. Juda’s fortunes shifted when she met Paul Arthur Juda, a fellow German exile and law student. They married in 1939 and, with financial assistance from Paul’s family, Annely was able to study full-time at the Reimann School. During the Second World War, she contributed to the war effort as a driver for the Women's Voluntary Service, delivering supplies in Blitz-torn London. In 1949, the family moved to Cologne, Germany, in hopes of reclaiming property confiscated from Paul’s family. Initially successful, their prosperity waned as Paul’s business faltered, leading to their divorce in 1955.

Juda returned to London with her children, where she took on various menial jobs. In 1956, she began work as a secretary and translator for art collector Eric Estorick. Although this was short-lived, it strengthened her resolve to pursue a career in the art world. She later worked at the Kaplan Gallery before establishing her own space, the Molton Gallery, in 1960. Located in central London’s South Molton Street, Juda gained recognition for her pioneering exhibitions featuring avant-garde British artists, such as William Turnbull, Robyn Denny, and Gillian Ayres. This spirit of innovation continued during her time as director of the Hamilton Gallery from 1963 to 1967, where she introduced works by American Abstract Expressionists, including Jackson Pollock, to British audiences. Juda’s deep ties to European modernism informed her curatorial approach. Her exposure to German and Central European art during her time with Estorick inspired her to introduce British audiences to movements such as Russian Constructivism, Bauhaus, and De Stijl. Notable Russian artists, such as Kazimir Malevich, Wassily Kandinsky, and El Lissitzky featured prominently. In 1968, she co-founded Annely Juda Fine Art with her son David at Tottenham Mews, presenting innovative exhibitions that challenged conventional narratives.

The gallery’s first exhibition, Now Open: Important Paintings of the 20th Century and Young Artists, set the tone for a number of influential shows, including the The Non-Objective World series (1970–1973), which explored the evolution of abstraction from 1914 to the mid-1950s. These exhibitions juxtaposed works by modernist pioneers, such as Tatlin and Popova, with contemporary figures, such as Kenneth and Mary Martin, offering a broader perspective on non-figurative art. A significant 1984 exhibition, Dada–Constructivism: The Janus Face of the Twenties, showcased the connections between seemingly opposing movements. Juda’s ventures extended to contemporary art, showcasing the work of sculptor, Anthony Caro and introducing conceptual artist, Christo, whose works she exhibited eleven times. Her promotion of modern Japanese art highlighted her global outlook, fostering a cross-cultural dialogue that enriched London’s art scene. The gallery’s roster also included prominent British artists like David Hockney and Leon Kossoff, reflecting Juda’s willingness to embrace both abstraction and figuration. From 1982 to 1987, she partnered with Alec Gregory-Hood to form the Juda Rowan Gallery, although their differing approaches eventually led to an amicable separation.

In 1990, Annely Juda Fine Art moved to a custom-built space in Dering Street, Mayfair, allowing for the display of large-scale sculptures and further establishing the gallery’s reputation. Juda's dedication to promoting art earned her a CBE in 1998. Juda’s personal reputation was built on her meticulous eye for authenticity, deep knowledge, and unwavering support for her artists. This dedication shaped the identity of her galleries and influenced generations of art dealers and curators. After a gradual decline in health, Juda died in Nightingale House, London, England on 13 August 2006. Her legacy endures through the continued work of her son David and Annely Juda Fine Art, which remains a testament to her pioneering vision. In 2019 Annely Juda featured in Brave New Visions: The Émigrés Who Transformed the British Art World at Sotheby's in London and, in summer 2024, in Ben Uri's exhibition: Cosmopolis: The Impact of Refugee Art Dealers in London, celebrating her pivotal role in enriching London’s cultural landscape.

Related books

Philip Carter, 'Juda [née Brauer], Anneliese Emily [Annely]', in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013)
Serge Lemoine ed., Annely Juda – A Celebration (London: Annely Juda Fine Art, 2007)
'Annely Juda', The Times, 17 August 2006, p. 62
Roberta Smith, 'Annely Juda, 91, Gallery Owner Who Championed Modernism, Dies', New York Times, 30 August 2006
Annely Juda Fine Art/Juda Rowan Gallery: Twenty Five Years (London: Annely Juda Fine Art, 1985)
Masterpieces of the Avantgarde (London: Annely Juda Fine Art, 1985)

Related organisations

Annely Juda Fine Art (owner)
Hamilton Gallery (owner)
Kaplan Gallery (assistant)
Molton Gallery (owner)
Reimann School of Art and Design (student)
Women’s Royal Voluntary Service (volunteer)

Selected exhibitions

Cosmopolis: The Impact of Refugee Art Dealers in London, Ben Uri Gallery and Museum (2024)
Brave New Visions: The Émigrés Who Transformed the British Art World, Sotheby's (2019)
Annely Juda: A Celebration, Annely Juda Fine Art, London (2007)
Naum Gabo, Annely Juda Fine Art, London (1999)
Katsura Funakoshi, Annely Juda Fine Art, London (1996)
Prunella Clough, Annely Juda Fine Art, London (1993)
From Picasso to Abstraction, Annely Juda Fine Art, London (1989)
Five Abstract Artists from Germany, Annely Juda Fine Art, London (1987)
The Suprematist Straight Line, Annely Juda Fine Art, London (1977)
The Non-Objective World 1914–24, Annely Juda Fine Art, London (1970)

Ben Uri archive

Consult items in the Ben Uri archive related to [Annely Juda]