Leonhard EPP

1932 - 2018

EPP, Leonhard: Passed away suddenly on February 18th, in his 86th year. Leonhard was born near Heidelberg, Germany in 1932, the youngest of ten siblings. At the age of nineteen, after earning a Journeyman's Certificate in stone sculpture, he emigrated alone to Canada, where he took a job as a lumberjack in Rimouski, Quebec. After one winter's employment, he made the decision to relocate to Vancouver, where he eventually enrolled in the Vancouver School of Art (now Emily Carr University). It was there, in 1958, that he met his beloved life partner Ann Kipling. He taught at the school from 1962 to 1972 as Professor of Sculpture and Ceramics. Leonhard and Ann moved to the Okanagan in 1973, where he served as Professor of Sculpture and Ceramics at Okanagan College from 1974 to 1976. After teaching, he focused full time on his creative practice in his studio in Falkland, B.C. Leonhard's art was exhibited in numerous solo exhibitions in public and private galleries, including the Vernon Art Gallery, the Kamloops Art Gallery, the Kelowna Art Gallery, the House of Ceramics, and the Bau-Xi Gallery. He also participated in numerous group exhibitions in Vancouver and Seattle. He won the competition to create sculptures for the Federal Manpower Building in Victoria, B.C., as well as the Fishermen's Credit Union Building in Vancouver, B.C. Today, his art is included in numerous public galleries, as well as many private and corporate collections. A celebration of Leonhard Epp's life and art will be held at the Kelowna Art Gallery @1315 Water Street Saturday, April 21st, from 1:30 to 4:00 PM. A neighbourhood celebration of his life and art will also be held on Sunday, April 29th, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at the Aly home, @4375 Highway 97, Falkland, B.C. Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded to the family at www.MyAlternatives.ca. Cremation arrangements entrusted to ALTERNATIVES FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES®, Armstrong 250-546-7237 & Vernon 250-558-0866.