Leslie J. Sacks
Born1952
Johannesburg, South Africa
DiedSeptember 26, 2013 (age 61)
NationalitySouth Africa
United States
Alma materUniversity of the Witwatersrand
Occupation(s)Art dealer and collector
SpouseGina Brourman-Sacks
Children4
FamilyRodney Sacks (brother)
Ze'ev Bielski (brother-in-law)
Adi Bielski (niece)
Websitehttp://womensvoicesnow.org
http://www.lesliesacks.com

Leslie J. Sacks (1952 – September 26, 2013) was a Los Angeles–based art dealer[1] and founder of Women's Voices Now.[2]

Early life

Sacks was born to a Jewish family[3] in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1952,[2][4] the second of three children born to Lithuanian Jewish immigrants.[5][6] His father was South African businessman Wolfe Harry Sacks.[4][7] His sister Caron Sacks is married to Israeli politician Ze'ev Bielski,[7] and is the mother of actress Adi Bielski. His brother Rodney Sacks is the co-founder of Monster Beverage.[4]

Sacks graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand with a degree in psychology and computer science.[2] While in college, he fought against apartheid.[3]

Career

In 1981, he opened his first art gallery, Les Art, in South Africa. In 1991, he moved to Los Angeles and opened Leslie Sacks Fine Art in Brentwood, California.[1] In 2007, he purchased the Bobbie Greenfield Gallery at Bergamot Station, renaming it Leslie Sacks Contemporary. His specialities were African tribal art, post-war artists, and contemporary artists including Andy Warhol and Robert Motherwell.[1] His collection of African art was published in Refined Eye, Passionate Heart - African Art from the Leslie Sacks Collection by Skira.[5]

Philanthropy

In 2010, Sacks founded and funded Women's Voices Now, a charity dedicated to "empowering women living in Muslim-majority societies by promoting their free expression, thereby giving voice to the struggles for civil, economic, political, and gender rights".[2] He was an ardent supporter of the state of Israel.[5] Sacks produced a documentary about his father, South Africa businessman Wolfe Harry Sacks.[4]

Personal life

Sacks died of cancer on September 26, 2013.[1] He was survived by his wife Gina Brourman-Sacks, an immigrant from South Korea.[8] He has two sons and two stepsons.[1] His wife succeeded him as board chair of Women's Voices Now.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Ng, David (October 23, 2013). "Leslie Sacks, Los Angeles art dealer, dies at 61". The Los Angeles Times.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Leslie Sacks – Board Chair (In Memoriam) – Women's Voices Now Founder, Philanthropist". Women's Voices Now. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  3. ^ a b Ahmed, Qanta (November 13, 2013). "The tree house that Leslie Sacks built - Remembering a Jewish art lover who championed the rights of Muslim women". The Times of Israel.
  4. ^ a b c d One Long House: Wolfe Sacks Archived May 1, 2015, at the Wayback Machine retrieved April 29, 2015
  5. ^ a b c "Leslie Sacks, founder and principal of Leslie Sacks Fine Art and Leslie Sacks Contemporary, dies at age 61". ArtDaily. April 29, 2015.
  6. ^ "Obituaries - Leslie Sacks". The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. October 23, 2013.
  7. ^ a b Cashman, Greer Fay (August 25, 2009). "Grapevine: US politicians flock to visit - Sculpture garden dedicated at Ariel University Center, and youth essay contest launched". Jerusalem Post. The garden was donated by Bielski's brother-in-law Leslie Sacks of Los Angeles in memory of his father Wolfe (Harry) Zev Sacks. Leslie Sacks, his mother, sister Caron and other family members..."
  8. ^ "Gina Brourman-Sacks". Women's Voices Now. 20 December 2019.
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