Forest, c. 1971
Artist and art teacher Zena Flax was born into a Jewish family in London, England in 1930. She trained at the Chelsea School of Art (1949–53), studying illustration, and then at the Central School of Arts and Crafts (1953–55), where she specialised in etching; in 1954 she exhibited with the Women's International Art Club. She also showed in annual group exhibitions at Ben Uri Gallery in 1958 and 1964. In 1966 four of her prints were included in an exhibition organised by the Hampstead Arts Council held at Camden Arts Centre entitled ArtistCraftsman66. Between 1970 and 1974 she lectured at Barking College of Technology, before joining a graphic design group with whom she worked until 1981. She held a solo exhibition at the Ben Uri Art Gallery in Dean Street, Soho, in 1971 and in 1979 her work was included in a Ben Uri exhibition entitled The Other Hand, showcasing 'the more personal work of designers, practising in Publicity, Textile, Typography, Printing, Illustration, Film, Book and General Graphic Design'. In 1991 she became a freelance graphic designer and illustrator; she became an exhibiting member of the Printers Inc Workshop, with whom she held a further exhibition at Ben Uri in 1990. In 1991 she had a solo exhibition at the Sternberg Centre for Judaism in London and she has also exhibited her etchings at galleries including the Whitechapel Art Gallery and Royal Academy Diploma Gallery; in 2004 she participated in a four-artist show at The Stables Gallery, Dollis Hill. Her work is also held by the University of Warwick Art Collection. She lives and works in London.
