Website: www.avnerlevinson.com
Image:
Title: Prima Donna II
Year: 2006
Value: $1400
Size: 17.5h x 5w x 4d
Edition: 4/8
Description: Plaster sculpture
About the artwork: In my work, I aim to deal with human dilemmas, to balance materialism with spirituality, and to tackle the complexity of human growth on all planes. I seek to investigate the gap between everyday life, with its methodical routines, and the personal desire to strive for more- to be more than the sum of our days’ activities, resumés and relationships with other human beings. I recognize that good and bad forces exist within each of us, and that this dichotomy, this dissonance and this struggle actually make us whole.
While sculpting abstract forms with hints of figurative shapes, I am honing in on ideas and expressions, finding less ambiguity and more clarity as the works evolve. I begin most pieces with a vague notion and vision of what I want to build since I relish the process and its inherent transformative nature. I choose not to fully formulate my intention in the beginning.
I believe that all of my works lend themselves to figurative interpretations, often reminding the viewer (and myself) of human beings, animals, landscapes, or other forms. The ambiguity, however, is deliberate.
The surfaces and shapes in my sculptures were largely inspired by my upbringing in Jerusalem, which is nestled between lush green mountains and a typically arid desert. Those landscapes that I experienced in nature over time left a big impression on me. They inform my work.
Much of my past work has been created with plaster and clay, but I now work primarily with a papier mache mix, which I developed for my particular needs, often on steel armatures. Papier mache allows me the freedom to cut, break and change the piece with ease while also working quickly. It has qualities of interest to me: it is very light, fluid, flexible, and frankly, more environmentally sound than many other materials. The added benefit of papier mache is that no tools are needed. Thus, I am able to be completely hands-on without the barrier of a tool. It feels more personal to me.
Creating art has always been a vehicle for my self-expression. I grapple with and explore my thoughts when I immerse myself in a new work, and when I emerge with a finished work. Sculpting is a creative, emotional, spiritual and intellectual pursuit for me.
About the artist: Born, 1981 , Jerusalem, Israel
EXHIBITIONS
2010: It`s A wonderful Tenth, Group Show, Sideshow Gallery, Brooklyn, New York.
2009: Fifth Annual BAM Art Silent Auction, Group Show, Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York.
2009: Evening for the Arts, Group show, The Round Table NYC, New York.
2009: DUMBO Open Studio- Participated in the DUMBO Annual Arts Festival
2009: Thesis Exhibition, New York Studio School, New York.
2009: Art Exhibition, Group Show, Patton Boggs LLP, New York.
2008: Secret Art, Group Show,Bank Leumi Gallery, Tel Aviv, Israel.
2008: DUMBO Open Studio- Participated in the DUMBO Annual Arts Festival
2008: Sculptures, Solo Show, Iron Fish Gallery, Beacon, New York.
2007: Recent Work, Solo Show, NYSS Gallery, New York.
2006: Inaugural Show: Drawings, Group Show, NYSS Sculpture Studio, Brooklyn, New York.
2005: Recent Work, Solo Show, The Tel Aviv Museum Workshop, Tel Aviv, Israel.
EDUCATION
2005-09: New York Studio School, MFA (Sculpture).
2003-05: Tel Aviv Museum of Art Education Center, Tel Aviv.
Enrolled in painting and sculpture Courses. Teaching Assistant to Zvi Lachman.
1996-99: Stav-Pisul School of Art, Jerusalem, Israel
AWARDS/ SCHOLARSHIPS
2009-10: New York Studio School, Artist-in-Residency, Brooklyn, NY.
2006-08: New York Studio School, Sculpture Scholarship, New York, NY.
2004: Tel-Aviv Museum Workshop- Excellence Scholarship , Tel Aviv, Israel.
REVIEWS
2009: My Art & Color Artist at Work, May Issue, USA (Artist Profile)
2009: Maykr On-Line Magazine, February Issue, USA (Artist Profile)
2008: Pen Magazine, December Issue, Japan, pp. 51-52, 57. (Studio Visit)
2008: Gioia Magazine, September Issue, Italy, pp. 160-1, 166-7 (Works Pictured)
2008: Footwear Plus Magazine, April/May, USA, pp.24-25 (Studio Visit)
1999: Kol Haear Newspaper, June 10th, 1999, Israel (Artist Profile)
RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE
2009- Present: Art Teacher, New Shul, New York City, NY.
2009- Present: Artist Assistant, Lucy Liu, New York City, NY.
2007: Artist Assistant, William Tucker Studio, Wiliamsburg, MA.
2004-05: Artist Assistant, Zvi Lachman Studio, Tel Aviv, Israel.
2004-05: Casting Technician, A.P. Casting Factory, Bet Yanai, Israel.
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