Kinetic Artist Len Janklow

“Inner Light” Serigraphic Wall Sculpture, right view, by fine artist Len Janklow

Kinetic Art, a relatively new art form, is defined as any artwork that evokes movement of any kind. It can be art that is literally moving, art that moves as you walk by it or around it, or art that can be manually manipulated, creating new images.  Sometimes it is even electrically powered. It is art that invites the viewer to be part of the experience, inserting himself or herself into the creation of the artwork.

Len Janklow is one notable example of an artist who has succeeded in this field of kinetic art, incorporating the viewer into the creative process in many different ways.

Len Janklow’s Life and Art

Leonard Janklow was born in New York City in 1919 and knew from a young age that he had artistic talent. After attending the Art Students League with a scholarship, he began his artistic career. However, the Great Depression caused him to think in a more practical and financially pragmatic way. After an apprenticeship painting billboards, Janklow found a job at an art studio and eventually founded his own successful New York-based advertising agency. 

After about 25 years in advertising, Janklow sold the business, moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and took up fine art again at the age of 53. His talents shone in the realm of kinetic fine art, garnering international attention. Among his limited editions, in both print and sculpture, Zimmerman Limited Editions published and produced them all. At the end of his life in 2006, Len Janklow was not only an artist but a friend, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Janklow loved using bright colors and playful designs, encouraging his audience to partake in the fun. Zimmerman Fine Arts considered it a privilege to work with Len Janklow for many years, creating serigraph limited editions of some of his most important and exciting works of art.

Len Janklow’s Art

Len Janklow’s art, like all kinetic art, captures a sense of movement, whether it be through the illusion of movement, the manual activation of movement, or movement produced through electricity. Color is the soul of kinetic art, adding the intangible element to mechanical motion. In his art, Janklow’s aim was to elevate one’s mood through his bright colors.

Overall, one could say Janklow’s vision was to direct the mind’s eye of the viewer into a deeper or different perspective of reality through optical works. Yet, for all the “illogical and mysterious” illusions his works might create at first, a closer inspection makes all his construction and materials plain to see. The obvious yet mysterious nature of his works is no accident, as he did not intend to hide anything, but one can still marvel at both. Janklow is a magician with no secrets. 

Contact Zimmerman Fine Art Today!

Since 1979 Zimmerman Editions Ltd. has worked closely with many internationally acclaimed artists to execute editions of their most unique images. Collaborating directly with the artists, Zimmerman Editions’ atelier has printed, fabricated, and published many special limited editions of fine art, including both prints and sculptures. All images have been faithfully produced to meet the artists’ most exacting requirements. Many of these high-quality art prints and objets d’art are represented in public and private collections around the world.

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