Gil Cohen

Gil is rightfully recognised by collectors as one of the finest aviation and military artists ever to have graced the genre. Growing up during the Second World War near the airbases of Philadelphia, USA, it was undoubtedly his early years spent listening out for the roars from the various aircraft of the Mighty Eighth Air Force that sparked his passion for the subject. As a young adult, Gil also spent time in the US Army as an artist, posted just outside Frankfurt with the 513th Military Intelligence Group, US Army Europe, during the height of the Cold War. These formative years allowed his interest in the military, history and art to blossom and served as a springboard for his career as an aviation artist.

Gil’s awe-inspiring portfolio has earned him a place among the elite artists in the field, and his paintings reflect his meticulous attention to detail. But it is his focus on the human element of combat that makes his artwork stand out. The Cohen classic ‘Night of Nights’ focuses not on the formation of C-47s entering Normandy on the night of D-Day, but rather on the view from inside the aircraft as the men of the 101st Airborne prepare to jump. ‘We Guide to Strike’ portrays a dangerous RAF bombing raid over Germany from the perspective of the wireless operator looking into the cockpit. Gil’s work never fails to reflect the raw human emotion involved in war, without compromising on historical accuracy – his paintings portray real history and real experiences.