
Emil Lukas working in his studio
New York, NY: 13 December 2013 - Sperone Westwater is pleased to announce an exhibition by Emil Lukas which features two major bodies of works: Thread Paintings and Larvae Paintings. These are “of unsurpassed beauty and formal complexity informed by a rigorous process of discovery and experimentation. As an artist, Lukas is unique in his ability to harness the physical attributes of materials and organic processes” to quote Harry Philbrick, Director of the Museum of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, who interviewed the artist for the accompanying catalogue.
Lukas’ distinctive use of everyday organic materials, such as thread, silk, or larvae, and his innovative techniques create intricate works which engage the viewer in an intimate and contemplative way. The accumulation of lines characterizes Lukas’ works -- materials do not exist independently, but are layered and stratified. His process is one in which creation and composition occur simultaneously.