Emil Lukas: 1989 from the Sinai to Harlem
December 03, 2023 - April 27, 2024
The Fundación Pablo Atchugarry is pleased to present 1989 from the Sinai to Harlem, by Pennsylvania based artist, Emil Lukas. Lukas’ second exhibition with the foundation unveils a series of never before exhibited “Stacks” that embarks on a journey through the intricacies of Lukas’ oeuvre, emphasizing the multifaceted nature of his creations and the profound narratives embedded within. The enigmatic stacked sculptures are structural fragments composed of dozens of individual works layered one on top of the other, evoking a sort of timeline into the artist’s life. As the exhibition title suggests, the genesis of the stacked sculptures traces back to the late 80s , shaped by the artist’s nomadic travels and apprenticeship with the notable Swiss artist, Not Vital, and continues to be investigated today, revealing an archeology of Lukas’ artistic practice.
“I feel that our travels in the late 80’s and early 90’s shaped the development of stacked sculptures.” - Emil Lukas
Emil Lukas (b. 1964, Pittsburgh, United States)
Emil Lukas has exhibited throughout the United States and abroad. Solo museum shows include “Emil Lukas: Connection to the Curious” at The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield, CT (2005); “Emil Lukas” at The Weatherspoon Museum, Greensboro, NC (2005); “Things with Wings,” The Mattress Factory, Pittsburgh, PA (2005); and “Moderate Climate and the Bitter Bison” at the Hunterdon Museum, Hunterdon, NJ (2008). In 2016, a solo exhibition of his work was held at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA. Lukas’ work has been featured in group shows at the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris (1995), Museo di arte moderna e contemporanea di Trento e Rovereto (1996); Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston (1998); Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City (1999); American Academy, Rome (2000); The Drawing Center, New York (2002); and SCAD Museum of Art, Savannah (2012-13). His work is in important private and public collections, including the Panza Collection, Italy; the Dakis Joannou Collection, Greece; Margulies Collection, Miami; Allentown Art Museum, PA; the Anderson Collection at Stanford University; Baltimore Museum of Art; Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, AR; Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego; Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; San José Museum of Art; UBS Art Collection; and Weatherspoon Art Museum, Greensboro, NC.