Mark Levin creates masterful wood sculpture and artful furniture. A sublime elegance permeates his creations for which he combines elements of aesthetic beauty with purposeful meaning, form and function.
Free-standing and wall mounted sculptures, tables, desks and more comprise his resplendent, highly praised portfolio. Mark also creates art on commission.
Mark’s works of art simulate the forms we observe in nature and in human anatomy. The absence of acute right angles that exist in most functional wood pieces is replaced by sensuous organic curves, smooth contours, and curvatures. These soothing qualities bring a continuous sense of fluidity and movement. Such visual attributes emanate harmony, continuity and renewal.
Mark’s inspiration often originates from his love and respect for family members and women of fame. “Shoshana Apple Table” was named after his oldest sister, a flutist. His “Paganini Flower Blossom Shelf” was created in loving memory of his younger sister who played the violin. Mark also created a series “named after starlets that outwardly were beautiful, but their lives were tragic.”
As a contemporary artist Mark is positioned among major predecessors in Modernism, such as Wendell Castle, who blurred the lines between art and design. His art alters our perspective about the choices we make for art and practical items in our homes and places of business. We may envision enhancing our lives with his beautiful, healing, and functional works of art.
The enormous talent that is required to create Mark’s pieces is impressive. His transformative creations are the culmination of an enlightened creative vision and proficiency. His knowledge about design is enlivened by skillful carving, polishing, chiseling, and lamination processes.
Mark employs “Stack Lamination”, a technique that is highly valued among collectors. He preserves the innate natural beauty of the wood grains and colors by protecting and preserving the completed pieces with a Danish oil finish.
Childhood memories play an important role in Mark’s artistic inspiration. As he informs us, “The Hanna Flower Petal Table is part of the ‘Leaf and Flower Series’ that I’ve expanded over the years. The bulb-like base is from the memory of helping my mother plant bulbs in her garden in the fall as a young boy.”
As a masterful artist Mark’s never-ending quest for advancing aesthetic concerns and finding functional solutions are among his many admirable qualities. He explains, “This bulb-like base will provide a resolution to many sculptures, for I could never figure out how to ‘ground’ them. The bulb base answers the conundrum.”
Mark explains, “The Bon Appétit Kitchen Cutting Block Table has been in my sketchbook for years. I could never resolve the base, but when I came up with the bulb base for the ‘Hanna Flower Petal Table’, I knew it would work for this cutting block table. The Bon Appétit Kitchen Cutting Block Table base also has a chess pawn feel to it.”
He adds, “As a young boy, I was over the moon when my father allowed me to set up the chessboard for him. All the pawn bases had this wonderful shape that I’ve never forgotten, and I even remember how they felt in my hand.”
When you visit Mark’s website and view his art, make sure you also read his descriptions. You will learn more about this man who brings so much to his creative process through his heart and his hands.
Visit Mark Levin’s Website: marklevin.com
This Art Review was written by Renee Phillips, Director and Curator, Manhattan Arts International and The Healing Power of ART & ARTISTS, New York, NY
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