Explore through artist

Born in October 1905, Morris Kestelman grew up in a Jewish immigrant family in the East End of London and won a scholarship to the Central School of Art in 1922. Through his work, he became a member of the avant-garde London Group, eventually going on to study at the Royal College of Art.

In addition to his abstract paintings, Kestelman worked in theatre and costume design, producing sets for Carmen at Sadler's Wells in 1940 and designing a number of productions at the Old Vic, including Richard III starring Laurence Olivier.

His 1943 painting Lama Sabachthani is a rare British artistic response to news of the atrocities known to be taking place against the Jews in occupied Poland.