Barry Le Va’s drawings have always been as significant as his sculptures and installations. These different mediums are mutually dependent and can be understood as existing in a structural, dialectic relationship. Drawing for Le Va, in addition to being a purely practical activity, is a form of thinking that offers the opportunity to concentrate on specific ideas, to alter and further develop them, as he himself has said. As such, he continues in the classical western tradition that since the Renaissance has perceived the “disegno”, the artist’s sketch, as depicting the actual artistic act. Le Va later realized many of these ideas in three-dimensions, and it is particularly in these pieces that it becomes clear how much the principles of the processual, the transitory, and the accidental manifest themselves in both the drawings and the sculptures. Since 1987 Galerie Fred Jahn has been associated with the artist through numerous projects and publications.
Press
Barry Le Va, Whose Floor-Bound Art Defied Boundaries, Dies at 79, Roberta Smith, The New York Times, 27.02.2021Vita
1941—2021
Long Beach, California – New York
1960—1963
Studies of Mathematics and Architecture at California State University, Long Beach
1963
Studies at Los Angeles College of Art & Design
1964—1967
Studies at Otis Art Institute of Los Angeles County
1968—1970
Instructor Minneapolis College of Art & Design
1968
Young Talent Grant des Los Angeles County Museum
1973—1974
Professorship for Advanced Sculpture at Princeton University, New Jersey
1974
Grant of the John Simon Guggenheim Memomorial Foundation
1976
National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship
2000
Hugo Boss Prize, Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, New York
Selected Solo Shows
2024
In a State of Flux – Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein, Vaduz
2021
Barry Le Va. Munich Projects – Jahn und Jahn, Munich
Barry Le Va. Zeichnen um zu denken – Metropol Kunstraum, Munich
2020
Barry Le Va – David Nolan Gallery, New York
2019
Barry Le Va – Dia:Beacon, New York
Barry Le Va: Part One. Drawings 1967-2017 – David Nolan Gallery, New York
2017
Barry Le Va. Munich-Africa 1992–1995 – Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich
2017—2020
2016
Barry Le Va. Network – David Nolan Gallery, New York
2015
Barry Le Va – Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich
Akira Ikeda Gallery, Berlin
2014
Akira Ikeda Gallery, Tokyo
2013
Silent Readings – David Nolan Gallery, New York
Barry Le Va. Large Scale Collages 1985–1991 – Marc Selwyn Fine Art, Los Angeles, California
Barry Le Va. Early Installations – Sonnabend Gallery, New York
2012
The Floor Show. Gravity and Materials – Gagosian Gallery, Beverly Hills
Barry Le Va. The Italian Project. Monica in Grey, Grey and Black – Sonnabend Gallery, New York
Barry Le Va. 3 drawings, 1974 – The National Exemplar Gallery, New York
2010
Ink on Paper, Cut and Glued to Ink on Paper. 1983–1988 – David Nolan Gallery, New York
Barry Le Va – Marc Selwyn Fine Art, Los Angeles
2009
Sculptures and Drawings. 1966–2008 (Part 1) – Nolan Judin, Berlin
Barry Le Va. Hands, Handles, Blades: Cleaver Configurations 1969–2009 – Mary Boone Gallery, New York
Barry Le Va. Munich Diary-African Sketchbook – Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich
2008
Voltage – David Nolan Gallery, New York
Dwight Hackett Projects, Santa Fe, New Mexico
2007
Double Join – Metropol Kunstraum, Munich (cat.)
2006
Zeichnungen und Collagen – Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich
Barry Le Va – Museu Serralves, Museu de Arte Contemporanea, Porto
Barry Le Va – Mary Boone Gallery, New York
2005
Barry Le Va – Mary Boone Gallery (in cooperation with David Nolan Gallery), New York
Drawings and Sculpture – Danese, New York
9g-Wagner Diagrams. ICA Variations – Nolan / Eckman Gallery, New York
Accumulated Vision – Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
2003
A Survey of Drawings 1966–2003 and Two New Sculptures – Galerie Juerg Judin, Zurich (cat.)
Barry Le Va. Scrapbooks. Livres à dessins 1998–2003 – Cabinet des estampes du Musée d’art et d’histoire, Geneva (cat.)
Farbholzschnitte und Lithografien 1987–1991 – Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich
2002
Black on Blue. Diagrams for Double-Tiered Sculpture – Danese, New York
2001
Zeichnungen 1966–2000 – Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich
Barry Le Va. A Decade of Drawings – Texas Gallery, Houston
Recent Drawings. Early Works – Nolan / Eckman Gallery, New York
2000
Zeichnungen Collagen Überarbeitete Fotos – Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich
Nelly Aman Gallery, Tel Aviv
Barry Le Va – Corvi-Mora, London
Barry Le Va. Selected Drawings from 1982 to 1998 – Norwood Gallery, Austin, Texas
1999
Barry Le Va. Diagrammatic Silhouettes. Large Scale Drawings from 1987 – Danese, New York
Catalogued Confined. Sculpture and Drawings – Stephen Wirtz Gallery, San Francisco
Barry Le Va – Richard Telles Fine Art, Los Angeles
1998
Barry Le Va. Zeichnungen von 1967 bis 1996 – Kupferstich-Kabinett, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Dresden (cat.)
Smatterings. Works on Paper 1967–1998 – Sonnabend Gallery, New York
1997
Diagrams of Thought. Drawings 1994–1996 – Nolan / Eckman Gallery, New York (cat.)
Recovered · Catalogued · Confined – Danese, New York
1996
Bunker Coagulations – Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich
Arbeiten auf Papier 1995–1996 – Galerie Zell am See, Zell am See
Barry Le Va. Recent Works – Galerie Georges-Philippe Vallois, Paris
1995
Barry Le Va. Pages from a Sketchbook. Japanese Lacquerware – Nolan / Eckman Gallery, New York
Barry Le Va. Sculptures Part II – Sonnabend Gallery, New York
Barry Le Va. Sculptures Part I – Sonnabend Gallery, New York
1993—1994
Munich Diary-African Sketchbook und Barry Le Va. Zeichnungen 1965–93 – Staatliche Graphische Sammlung München, Munich; Städtisches Museum Leverkusen, Schloss Morsbroich (cat.)
1993
Barry Le Va. Drawings for Work in Progress – Nolan / Eckman Gallery, New York
Installation et œuvres sur papier des années soixante – Galerie Georges-Philippe Vallois, Paris
1992—1993
Dreaded Intrusions.Institutional Templates. Studies for Combinations and Arrangements of Sculpture Occupying Wall and Floor Areas, Lithographs and Collages 1989–1991 – Galerie Jahn und Fusban, Munich (cat.)
1990
Barry Le Va. The Texas Variations. Drawings for combinations and arrangements of 3 sculptures from the series Dissected Situations – David Nolan Gallery, New York
1989
Barry Le Va. Woodblock Prints and Related Drawings – David Nolan Gallery, New York
Recent Drawings – Daniel Weinberg Gallery, Los Angeles and San Francisco
Barry Le Va. Glass, Bullets, Cleavers, 1968–1970 – Städtisches Museum Abteiberg, Mönchengladbach (cat.)
1988
Barry Le Va – Rijksmuseum Kröller-Müller, Otterlo (cat.)
Barry Le Va. 1966–88 – Carnegie Mellon University Art Gallery, Pittsburgh; Newport Harbor Art Museum, Newport Beach; High Museum of Art, Atlanta; Neuberger Museum, State University of New York, Purchase
1987
Barry Le Va – Galerie Fred Jahn, Munich
1986
Barry Le Va. Drawings and Collages 1966–1986 – Daniel Weinberg Gallery, Los Angeles
Barry Le Va. Arbeiten auf Papier 1966–1975 – Galerie Rolf Ricke, Cologne
Barry Le Va. Drawings and Collages 1966–1986 – Sonnabend Gallery, New York
1985
Drawings. 1981–1984 – Texas Gallery, Houston
1983
Barry Le Va. Large Sculpture, Drawings, Diagrammatic Silhouettes – Sonnabend Gallery, New York
1982
P.S.1 – Long Island City, New York
Beaver College (today: Arcadia University), Glenside
Drawings – Yarlow / Salzman Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
1981
Barry Le Va. Recent Drawings – The New Gallery of Contemporary Art, Cleveland, Ohio
1980
Recent Drawings – Nigel Greenwood Gallery, London
Michelle Lachowsky, Brussels
Expanding Foundations. Eliminating Foundations, a three-room installation – Los Angeles Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
Otis Art Institute (today: Otis College of Art and Design), Los Angeles
1979
Barry Le Va. Drawings – Sonnabend Gallery, New York
1978
Barry Le Va. Drawings 1967–77 – Hartnell College Gallery, Salinas, California (cat.)
Barry Le Va. Four Consecutive Installations & Drawings, 1967–1978 – New Museum of Contemporary Art, New York (cat.)
1977
Accumulated Vision. Extended boundaries – Wright State University Art Gallery, Dayton, Ohio (cat.)
Barry Le Va. Installation – Claire Copley Gallery, Los Angeles
1976
Barry Le Va – Sonnabend Gallery, New York
Sonnabend Gallery, Paris
Accumulated Vision (Stages 1 & 2). Length Ratios – Texas Gallery, Houston
Claire Copley Gallery, Los Angeles
1975
Two Installations. 1967 – Bykert Gallery, New York
Installation and Drawings – Daniel Weinberg Gallery, San Francisco
Claire Copley Gallery, Los Angeles
Barry Le Va. Organisation Spatiale, Dessins, Espace 5 – Musée d’Art Contemporain, Montreal (cat.)
1974
Galleria Toselli, Milan
Joseloff Gallery, Hartford Art School, Hartford, Connecticut
Six Drawings – Texas Gallery, Houston (further presentations until 2001)
1973
Bykert Gallery, New York
Galerie Felix Handshin, Basel
Galerie Rudolf Zwirner, Cologne
1972
Ursula Wevers Gallery Projection, Cologne
1971
University of Utrecht, Utrecht
1970—1971
Nigel Greenwood Gallery, London
1970
Barry Le Va – Galerie Rolf Ricke, Cologne (further presentations until 1988)
1969
One Piece – Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Two Revolving Exhibitions – Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis
Presentation of the sculpture Velocity. Impact Run-Energy Drain – University Gallery of Fine Art, Ohio State University, Columbus
Selected Group Shows
2020
Don’t (Part I: Don’t Forget Your Mask) – Jahn und Jahn, Munich
2018
40+10+1 – Jahn und Jahn, Munich
2017
Plan View – Jahn und Jahn, Munich
2005
Works on Paper – Danese, New York
2004
Moved – Hunter College, City University of New York, New York
Symmetries. Siah Armajani, Richard Artschwager, Barry Le Va, Sol Lewitt, Sculpture and drawings – Senior and Shopmaker, New York
2003
Black / White – Danese, New York
2002
Phenomenal Bodies – Drammens Museum, Drammen, Norway
From Pop to Now – Wexner Center for the Arts, Columbus, Ohio
Five Sculptors Drawing. Drawings from the Seventies – Nolan / Eckman Gallery, New York
2000
After Image. Drawing Through Process – Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston
Retrospective – Sonnabend, New York
Topologies – White Box, New York
1999
Drawings from the Sixties. Mel Bochner, Barry Le Va, Keith Sonnier, Richard Tuttle – Curt Marcus Gallery, New York
1998
Bill Jensen, Barry Le Va, Pat Steir New Work – Danese, New York
Deep Thought II – Basilico Fine Arts, New York
1997
Laying Low – Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo
1996
Barry Le Va, Fred Sandback – Verein für Original-Radierung, Munich
1970
Information – Museum of Modern Art, New York (cat.)
1968
Two Painters and a Sculptor – California State College, Los Angeles
1967
New Comers ’67 – Lytton Center of Visual Arts, Los Angeles
