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Installation Views

Installation Views Thumbnails
Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Installation view, Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino, October 22 – November 28, 2020

Selected Works

Selected Works Thumbnails
Mark di Suvero Untitled (hungblock), 1962 steel, wood and paint 118 x 134 1/2 x 84 in. (299.7 x 341.6 x 213.4 cm)

Mark di Suvero
Untitled (hungblock), 1962
steel, wood and paint
118 x 134 1/2 x 84 in. (299.7 x 341.6 x 213.4 cm)

Mark di Suvero St. John the Baptist, 1961 steel and painted steel 40 x 52 x 40 in. (101.6 x 132.1 x 101.6 cm)

Mark di Suvero
St. John the Baptist, 1961
steel and painted steel
40 x 52 x 40 in. (101.6 x 132.1 x 101.6 cm)

Mark di Suvero Untitled, 1962 welded steel and wood 14 1/2 x 51 x 27 in. (36.8 x 129.5 x 68.6 cm) base: 4 x 52 x 27 1/2 in. (10.2 x 132.1 x 69.9 cm)

Mark di Suvero
Untitled, 1962
welded steel and wood
14 1/2 x 51 x 27 in. (36.8 x 129.5 x 68.6 cm)
base: 4 x 52 x 27 1/2 in. (10.2 x 132.1 x 69.9 cm)

Mark di Suvero Jonathan's piece, 1963-1964 steel, stainless steel, wood base 11 1/4  x 12 x 11 in. (28.6 x 30.5 x 27.9 cm)

Mark di Suvero
Jonathan's piece, 1963-1964
steel, stainless steel, wood base
11 1/4  x 12 x 11 in. (28.6 x 30.5 x 27.9 cm)

Mark di Suvero
Departure 2001, 1964
steel & wood
35 7/8 x 48 7/8 x 43 in. (91 x 124 x 109 cm)

Mark di Suvero
Departure 2001, 1964
steel & wood
35 7/8 x 48 7/8 x 43 in. (91 x 124 x 109 cm)

Mark di Suvero Untitled, 1965 welded steel, stainless steel on steel base 21 x 30 x 20 in. (53.3 x 76.2 x 50.8 cm)

Mark di Suvero
Untitled, 1965
welded steel, stainless steel on steel base
21 x 30 x 20 in. (53.3 x 76.2 x 50.8 cm)

Mark di Suvero
Canepiece, 1973
steel
41 x 48 x 39 in. (104.1 x 121.9 x 99.1 cm)

Mark di Suvero
Canepiece, 1973
steel
41 x 48 x 39 in. (104.1 x 121.9 x 99.1 cm)

Mark di Suvero
Sprung Free, 2020
steel, stainless steel
9 ft 5 in. x 9 ft 8 in. x 7 ft 2 in. (287 x 294.6 x 218.4 cm)

Mark di Suvero
Sprung Free, 2020
steel, stainless steel
9 ft 5 in. x 9 ft 8 in. x 7 ft 2 in. (287 x 294.6 x 218.4 cm)

Leonard Contino Pleasant Life, 2012 acrylic on canvas 22 x 30 in. (55.9 x 76.2 cm)

Leonard Contino
Pleasant Life, 2012
acrylic on canvas
22 x 30 in. (55.9 x 76.2 cm)

Leonard Contino
Slow Wave, 1991
acrylic on canvas
46 x 58 in. (116.8 x 147.3 cm)

Leonard Contino
Slow Wave, 1991
acrylic on canvas
46 x 58 in. (116.8 x 147.3 cm)

Leonard Contino Fragile Mist, 1989 acrylic on canvas 42 x 42 in. (106.7 x 106.7 cm)

Leonard Contino
Fragile Mist, 1989
acrylic on canvas
42 x 42 in. (106.7 x 106.7 cm)

Leonard Contino Water Fall, 1999 acrylic on canvas 30 x 36 in. (76.2 x 91.4 cm)

Leonard Contino
Water Fall, 1999
acrylic on canvas
30 x 36 in. (76.2 x 91.4 cm)

Leonard Contino Magellan, 1995 acrylic on canvas 42 x 48 in. (106.7 x 121.9 cm)

Leonard Contino
Magellan, 1995
acrylic on canvas
42 x 48 in. (106.7 x 121.9 cm)

Leonard Contino Broken Fragments, 1996 acrylic on canvas 22 x 26 in. (55.9 x 66 cm)

Leonard Contino
Broken Fragments, 1996
acrylic on canvas
22 x 26 in. (55.9 x 66 cm)

Leonard Contino Untitled [3], 1981 acrylic on canvas 32 x 40 in. (81.3 x 101.6 cm)

Leonard Contino
Untitled [3], 1981
acrylic on canvas
32 x 40 in. (81.3 x 101.6 cm)

 

Leonard Contino Cheops, 2005 acrylic on canvas 18 x 22 in. (45.7 x 55.9 cm)

Leonard Contino
Cheops, 2005
acrylic on canvas
18 x 22 in. (45.7 x 55.9 cm)

Leonard Contino Beaten Gold, 2005 acrylic on canvas 20 x 25 7/8 in. (50.8 x 65.7 cm)

Leonard Contino
Beaten Gold, 2005
acrylic on canvas
20 x 25 7/8 in. (50.8 x 65.7 cm)

Mark di Suvero Untitled (hungblock), 1962 steel, wood and paint 118 x 134 1/2 x 84 in. (299.7 x 341.6 x 213.4 cm)

Mark di Suvero
Untitled (hungblock), 1962
steel, wood and paint
118 x 134 1/2 x 84 in. (299.7 x 341.6 x 213.4 cm)

Mark di Suvero St. John the Baptist, 1961 steel and painted steel 40 x 52 x 40 in. (101.6 x 132.1 x 101.6 cm)

Mark di Suvero
St. John the Baptist, 1961
steel and painted steel
40 x 52 x 40 in. (101.6 x 132.1 x 101.6 cm)

Mark di Suvero Untitled, 1962 welded steel and wood 14 1/2 x 51 x 27 in. (36.8 x 129.5 x 68.6 cm) base: 4 x 52 x 27 1/2 in. (10.2 x 132.1 x 69.9 cm)

Mark di Suvero
Untitled, 1962
welded steel and wood
14 1/2 x 51 x 27 in. (36.8 x 129.5 x 68.6 cm)
base: 4 x 52 x 27 1/2 in. (10.2 x 132.1 x 69.9 cm)

Mark di Suvero Jonathan's piece, 1963-1964 steel, stainless steel, wood base 11 1/4  x 12 x 11 in. (28.6 x 30.5 x 27.9 cm)

Mark di Suvero
Jonathan's piece, 1963-1964
steel, stainless steel, wood base
11 1/4  x 12 x 11 in. (28.6 x 30.5 x 27.9 cm)

Mark di Suvero
Departure 2001, 1964
steel & wood
35 7/8 x 48 7/8 x 43 in. (91 x 124 x 109 cm)

Mark di Suvero
Departure 2001, 1964
steel & wood
35 7/8 x 48 7/8 x 43 in. (91 x 124 x 109 cm)

Mark di Suvero Untitled, 1965 welded steel, stainless steel on steel base 21 x 30 x 20 in. (53.3 x 76.2 x 50.8 cm)

Mark di Suvero
Untitled, 1965
welded steel, stainless steel on steel base
21 x 30 x 20 in. (53.3 x 76.2 x 50.8 cm)

Mark di Suvero
Canepiece, 1973
steel
41 x 48 x 39 in. (104.1 x 121.9 x 99.1 cm)

Mark di Suvero
Canepiece, 1973
steel
41 x 48 x 39 in. (104.1 x 121.9 x 99.1 cm)

Mark di Suvero
Sprung Free, 2020
steel, stainless steel
9 ft 5 in. x 9 ft 8 in. x 7 ft 2 in. (287 x 294.6 x 218.4 cm)

Mark di Suvero
Sprung Free, 2020
steel, stainless steel
9 ft 5 in. x 9 ft 8 in. x 7 ft 2 in. (287 x 294.6 x 218.4 cm)

Leonard Contino Pleasant Life, 2012 acrylic on canvas 22 x 30 in. (55.9 x 76.2 cm)

Leonard Contino
Pleasant Life, 2012
acrylic on canvas
22 x 30 in. (55.9 x 76.2 cm)

Leonard Contino
Slow Wave, 1991
acrylic on canvas
46 x 58 in. (116.8 x 147.3 cm)

Leonard Contino
Slow Wave, 1991
acrylic on canvas
46 x 58 in. (116.8 x 147.3 cm)

Leonard Contino Fragile Mist, 1989 acrylic on canvas 42 x 42 in. (106.7 x 106.7 cm)

Leonard Contino
Fragile Mist, 1989
acrylic on canvas
42 x 42 in. (106.7 x 106.7 cm)

Leonard Contino Water Fall, 1999 acrylic on canvas 30 x 36 in. (76.2 x 91.4 cm)

Leonard Contino
Water Fall, 1999
acrylic on canvas
30 x 36 in. (76.2 x 91.4 cm)

Leonard Contino Magellan, 1995 acrylic on canvas 42 x 48 in. (106.7 x 121.9 cm)

Leonard Contino
Magellan, 1995
acrylic on canvas
42 x 48 in. (106.7 x 121.9 cm)

Leonard Contino Broken Fragments, 1996 acrylic on canvas 22 x 26 in. (55.9 x 66 cm)

Leonard Contino
Broken Fragments, 1996
acrylic on canvas
22 x 26 in. (55.9 x 66 cm)

Leonard Contino Untitled [3], 1981 acrylic on canvas 32 x 40 in. (81.3 x 101.6 cm)

Leonard Contino
Untitled [3], 1981
acrylic on canvas
32 x 40 in. (81.3 x 101.6 cm)

 

Leonard Contino Cheops, 2005 acrylic on canvas 18 x 22 in. (45.7 x 55.9 cm)

Leonard Contino
Cheops, 2005
acrylic on canvas
18 x 22 in. (45.7 x 55.9 cm)

Leonard Contino Beaten Gold, 2005 acrylic on canvas 20 x 25 7/8 in. (50.8 x 65.7 cm)

Leonard Contino
Beaten Gold, 2005
acrylic on canvas
20 x 25 7/8 in. (50.8 x 65.7 cm)

Press Release

NEW YORK—Opening on Thursday, October 22, 2020 at 521 West 21st Street is a two-person exhibition of work by artists and close friends Mark di Suvero and Leonard Contino. The presentation will include early sculptures by di Suvero, ranging from compact tabletop pieces to large-scale steel abstractions, alongside paintings and sculpture by Contino highlighting the self-taught artist’s keen manipulation of color and form. A new work by di Suvero will also be on view in the gallery’s ground level vitrine space. The short documentary film Leonard Contino and Mark di Suvero: Brothers in Art, by Williams Cole and Dirk Van Dall, can be streamed online on PCG Studio throughout the duration of the exhibition. To view the film, click here.

Lifelong friends, di Suvero and Contino first met in 1960 at the Rusk Institute in New York City where both were patients. In 1959 at the age of nineteen, Contino was severely injured in a diving accident. Paralyzed from the shoulders down, he retained some mobility in his arms and hands and needed to use a wheelchair for the rest of his life. In 1960, di Suvero was involved in an accident while working at a construction site. Suffering a broken back and severe spinal injuries, he arrived at the Institute as a paraplegic. Contino: “The elevator opens up and there is this crazy guy in a red wheelchair […] And then he started drawing.” During his four-year recovery, di Suvero expanded on his artistic practice—learning to use an electric arc welder to produce small sculptures, some of which are included in the current exhibition. Through the encouragement of di Suvero, Contino turned to art as well, making drawings and eventually teaching himself to paint. “He brought me brushes, paint, and canvases. He took me around and explained to me about art,” Contino explained, “He taught me without teaching, which is a good way to do that. He made me want to do it.”

Created by di Suvero between 1961 and 1975, the selection of sculptures on view represent some of the artist’s earliest works of art. Wood proved difficult to manipulate by hand following his injury, so he turned with greater frequency to metal, using machinery to bend, cut, and weld the material into evocative forms. In contrast to his later iconic public installations, these early works are smaller in scale, supported by pedestals or placed directly on the ground. Ranging from referential to pure abstraction, they demonstrate the artist’s acute mastery of three-dimensional construction and ability to activate space. Composed of beams of wood and painted steel, the manifold planes of Untitled (hungblock), 1962, extend with a kinetic yet whimsical thrust. In his abstract untitled work of 1965, industrial parts that have been twisted and reassembled appear weightlessly balanced upon a thin vertical point. In a similar way, Contino manipulates form to create a shifting narrative and dynamic optical plane. The artist described his process as one of improvisation, erasure, and phenomenological acuity. In his “floaters” series, Contino paints bold linear shapes set against colorful backgrounds—a misty ether of orange, blue, red, or yellow. Merging architectural linearity and whimsical biomorphism, the variable forms resist structural clarity as their illusionistic modeling opposes a consistent or logical ordering of space. Contino’s sculptures are reminiscent of his paintings in their geometric approach to composition: synthesized shapes and constructional elements recede and protract, producing a radiant and lively spatial tension.

Mark di Suvero (b. 1933, Shanghai, China) first came to international prominence in 1975 with a display of his work in the Jardin des Tuileries in Paris—the first for any living person—and a major retrospective that same year at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, which was accompanied by a citywide exhibition of large-scale works. The artist has had acclaimed international exhibitions in Nice (1991), Venice (1995, at the 46th Venice Biennale), Paris (1997), Governors Island, NY (2011), and San Francisco (2013), among many others. His numerous accolades include the 2000 International Sculpture Center’s Lifetime Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award, the 2010 National Medal of Arts awarded by President Barack Obama, the 2010 Medal of the Archives of American Art, and the 2013 American Academy of Arts and Letters Gold Medal. His works appear permanently installed in public spaces all over the world. The artist currently lives and works in New York and in Petaluma, California.

Leonard Contino (b. 1940, Brooklyn, NY) remained dedicated to artmaking for over fifty years. In the 1960s and early 1970s, his work was exhibited at such New York venues as the Green Gallery, Park Place Gallery, Paula Cooper Gallery, and P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center as well as Janie C. Lee Gallery in Houston. More recently, the artist’s paintings were exhibited at the CUE Art Foundation in a show curated by di Suvero in 2013, and at Mitchell Algus Gallery in 2015. A retrospective of Contino’s career titled “Totally Dedicated: Leonard Contino, 1940-2016” was presented at the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art at SUNY New Paltz earlier this year (January 22 – April 5, 2020). His works are in a number of museums and private collections including the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington DC, the Dallas Museum of Art in Texas, and the Foundation of Contemporary Art, Geneva. Contino passed away in 2017 in Queens, NY.

For more information, please contact the gallery: (212) 255-1105 or
info@paulacoopergallery.com

Video

Installation walk-through, Mark di Suvero, October 15 – November 21, 2020

Installation walk-through, Leonard Contino, October 15 – November 21, 2020