Wild Things
An exhibition showcasing the theatrical paintings of
Victor Grasso
and animal sculptures by
Julia Levitina
Exhibition open January 6th through February 24th
Top to Bottom, Left to Right: Victor Grasso, The Sage, 2023. Oil on board, 20 x 16 inches. Inquire for Price.
Michael Quadland, Stability, 2023. Bronze free from base, 28.5 x 15 x 9 inches.
Gary Weisman, Raise, 2023. Edition of 9, Bronze, 4 x 14.5 x 9 inches.
Treacy Ziegler, Hebrides 4, 2023. Cast paper sculpture using letters from incarcerated persons, 10 x 12 x 10 inches.
Julia Levitina, Pas de Deux I(Dance for Two I), 2023. Bronze on cast concrete with pigment, 7 x 6.5 x 4 inches.
Stanek Gallery proudly presents "Wild Things," an exhibition inspired by the dramatic
and whimsical paintings by Victor Grasso paired with sculptures of bronze, paper, and found objects that depict wild interpretations of animal and human subjects. Victor Grasso’s paintings explore the classic "coming of age" story featuring archetypical characters while sculptures created by Julia Levitina, Michael Quadland, Gary Weisman, and Treacy Ziegler infuse human qualities of mind and body into their animal subjects.
Victor Grasso, King Max, 2023. Oil on linen, 8 x 17.5 inches. Inquire for Price.
Victor Grasso’s newest body of character-based work tells a classic "coming of age" story with a nod toward the Max character in Maurice Sendack’s popular children's book Where the Wild Things Are.
Grasso draws from his own experiences both as someone who has personally traversed the convoluted path from childhood to adulthood and as a father who now watches his children do the same. This exhibition illustrates the forest of obstacles that line the pathway from a fantastical and carefree adolescence toward a seemingly intimidating and complex maturity and the prototypical people we meet and/or become along the way. Most paintings do not directly reference Sendack’s book, instead Grasso's paintings reference the struggles of shifting perspectives, expectations, and the pressure to end play, wonder, and magic that we are faced with as we join "grown-up culture."
Victor Grasso is an architect of new and uncanny worlds using a realistic style and repeated symbols like the wolf head and boxes to make the dramatic tangible. Whether these characters are guarding a personal treasure, keeping themselves safe, or containing their demons is based on individual interpretation and psychological connection to the work. It is the job of the viewer to fully realize these works in relation to their own adventures of maturation.
“My paintings reflect situations that don’t often exist in everyday life... but I strive to make it as real as possible to bring you into my world.” - Victor Grasso
Visit Grasso's Viewing room where you can learn more about 5 spotlighted works from the show. All works in the viewing room are new and had hidden depths to explore. Learn about the inspiration behind the works, characters, titles, and just what those boxes and headdresses are about.
Julia Levitina, The Gathering, 2021. Bronze, 14.5 x 7 x 10 inches.
Gathering introduces concepts of solidarity while dealing with the fragility of life.
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In "Wild Things," Julia Levitina shares a captivating collection of bronze animal sculptures that ingeniously capture the complexities of human relationships. Each meticulously crafted piece serves as a visual metaphor for the intricacies of emotional connections, communication, and shared experiences.
Michael Quadland, Versailles Louie, 2022. Bronze, 40 x 22 x 15 inches.
Michael Quadland is debuting his newest bronze sculptures in "Wild Things" where he introduces human characteristics to his found object bronze bird sculptures. He seamlessly blends elements of nature and human expression in these quirky and delightful works. These works are robust and resilient, yet they have a light and playful air to them that is amplified in "Wild Things" by the surrounding works.
Gary Weisman, Altered Minotaur, ca. 2019. Edition of 12, Bronze, 17 x 19 x 9 inches.
Gary Weisman, renowned for his ability to intertwine reality with mythology, presents sculptures of horses and minotaurs that communicate complex emotional themes through strong poses - including his signature gravity-defying cantilever compositions. These pieces attest to Weisman's masterful exploration of the delicate balance between tension and release. He offers viewers a profound journey into his unique perspective on the human experience.
Treacy Ziegler, In Pursuit of the Naiive, ca. 2018. Bronze, 18 x 8 x 17 inches.
Treacy Ziegler is a polymath whose talents range from writing, to social works, to heart-tugging sculpture. The animal sculptures included in "Wild Things" encourage open interpretation as they bolster the exhibition's whimsical, dramatic, and evocative themes. Working in bronze, concrete, and cast paper from the letters of incarcerated persons, her sculptures capture the poignant expressions of animals and serve as a powerful mirror that reflects the intricacies of emotion in a way that is both deeply moving and wholly relatable.