Klaus Friedeberger, graphic designer : papers

This material is held atV&A Archive of Art and Design

  • Reference
    • GB 73 AAD/2010/4
  • Dates of Creation
    • ca. 1940 - 2003
  • Name of Creator
  • Language of Material
    • German English
  • Physical Description
    • ca. 113 files

Scope and Content

General Trading Company: correspondence, designs and promotional material, photographs, and typography (1957 - 1980); personal papers and correspondence (1940 - 1978); publications and published artwork (ca. 1950s - 1980s); posters (1946 - 2003); designs (1946 - 2000); tools (undated); publications (ca. 1948 - 1984).

Administrative / Biographical History

Klaus Friedeberger, a painter and graphic designer, who was born in Berlin in 1922, and has lived permanently in London since 1950. Friedeberger was sent to a Quaker school in Holland in 1938 to escape Nazi persecution in Berlin, before travelling to England in 1939 as a refugee, and from there to Australia as an 'enemy alien' in 1940. Whilst in the internment camp in New South Wales, Friedeberger was introduced to a number of influential German artists, including Hein Heckroth, a surrealist painter and stage designer who became Friedeberger's close mentor. His first work was therefore surrealist in style, and from 1944 Friedeberger exhibited with the Contemporary Art Society in Australia. Between 1947 and 1950, Friedeberger studied painting at East Sydney Technical College, and on returning to England in 1950 he produced a number of expressionist painting. For some years he combined painting with work as a graphic designer and a part-time teacher (Central School of Arts and Crafts, London College of Printing). In 1963 his first one-man show was held (London, Hamilton Gals). A large retrospective (1942 - 1992) was held at Woodlands Art Gallery, London, in 1992. Examples of Friedeberger's work are in the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra.

Access Information

This archive collection is available for consultation in the V&A Study Rooms by appointment only. Full details of access arrangements may be found here: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/a/archives/.

Access to some of the material may be restricted. These restrictions are noted in the catalogue where relevant.

Acquisition Information

Given by Klaus Friedeberger, 2010.

Cataloguing supported by the American Friends of the V&A through the generosity of The David Berg Foundation, New York.

Conditions Governing Use

Information on copying and commercial reproduction may be found here: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/a/archives/.