Having dropped out of school at sixteen to pursue his career as a painter, Creme painted, drew and exhibited throughout his life. Originally working in landscapes and then an abstracted figurative style, in the 1960s Creme began a period of esoteric paintings, inspired by Malevich and others, many of which are reminiscent of Hilma af Klint. According to the gallery that represents him, England & Co., his works were once acquired by the British Museum and the Victoria & Albert Museum. In Los Angeles, his works have a home at the Benjamin Creme Museum, which seeks to promote his philosophical and artistic legacies.
This week, fans of his art got some good news, as the LAPD announced the recovery of $800,000 worth his artworks. An anonymous tipster was clearing out a deceased relative’s storage unit in San Fernando, California, when they discovered the trove of works. Consulting the National Stolen Art database, the realized the works had been missing since 2012 and contacted the police.