Gaia Sofa

Profile Arik Levy "Creation is an uncontrolled muscle" according to Arik Levy (born 1963). Artist, technician, photographer, designer, video artist, Levy's skills are multi-disciplinary and his work can be seen in prestigious galleries and museums worldwide. Best known publicly for his sculptures – such as his signature Rock pieces – his installations, limited editions and design, Levy nevertheless feels "The world is about people, not objects". Hailing originally from Israel and moving to Europe after his first participation in a group sculpture exhibition in Tel-Aviv in 1986, Levy currently works in his studio in Paris. His formation was unconventional where surfing, as well as his art and graphic design studio, took up much of his time back home. Following studies at the Art Center Europe in Switzerland he gained a distinction in Industrial Design in 1991. After a stint in Japan where he consolidated his ideas producing products and pieces for exhibitions, Levy returned to Europe where he contributed his artistry to another field – contemporary dance and opera by way of set design. The creation of his studio then meant a foray back to his first love, art and industrial design, as well as other branches of his talents. Considering himself now more of a "feeling" artist, Arik Levy continues to contribute substantially to our interior and exterior milieu, his work including public sculpture, as well as complete environments that can be adapted for multi use. "Life is a system of signs and symbols," he says, "where nothing is quite as it seems." Upcoming installations 2017 Installation of RockTripleFusion VerticalGiant 660 and RockTripleFusionGiant 500, Taipei. two monumental public sculptures commissioned to be part of the residential project Da-An Park Towers by Sir Richard Rogers, in Taipei, Taiwan. Spring 2018 Installation of RockGrowthHermitage, Moscow. monumental public sculpture commissioned to be installed in front of the future Hermitage Moscow, a unique museum complex that will see the day in the Zilart District in Moscow, Russia. Permanent installations and ongoing exhibitions Atomium, Brussels – RockGrowth 808 Atomium – public space permanent installation– 04/2014 Crystal Worlds Museum, Wattens – Transparent Opacity – five-year solo installation – 09/2012 to 2017 Selection of art exhibitions and installations 2016 Podgorny Robinson gallery temporary space, Saint Paul de Vence – Arik Levy & Julian Schnabel – 08/2016 Louise Alexander – Outdoor Installation of Crater200 – Porto Cervo – 07/2016 Podgorny Robinson gallery temporary space, Saint Paul de Vence – Summer group exhibition – 07/2016 Rencontres d’Arles – « 20/20 » photography group exhibition_Existing Absence – 07/2016 2015 The London Design Festival, Somerset House – Transition : WARM/WET with Tabanlioglu Architects – FractalCloudWarm installation – 09/2015 Setareh Gallery, Düsseldorf – Mineral Memories – solo exhibition – 09/2015 Domaine du Muy, Contemporary Sculpture Park – RockStone 198 – 07-10/2015 Louise Alexander Gallery, Porto Cervo – Summer 2015 Group Exhibition – 07/2015 Praguekabinet gallery, Prague – Intuitive Reactions - solo exhibition – 05/2015 Please Do Not Enter gallery, Los Angeles – Intimate Formations - solo exhibition – 05/2015 Pékin Fine Arts Gallery, Hong-Kong - Manmade (Human) Nature – solo exhibition – 02/2015 2014 Alon Segev, Tel Aviv – Primitive Components – solo exhibition – 30/10/2014 Le Frenois, Tourcoing – Lux – group exhibition – Sparkler art video – 10/10/2014 Louise Alexander Gallery, Porto Cervo – Uncontrolled Nature – solo exhibition – 06/2014 Ilan Engel Gallery, Paris – New Works – solo exhibition – 06/2014 Atomium, Brussels – RockGrowth 808 Atomium – public space permanent installation and exhibition – 04/2014 Aeroplastics Contemporary, Brussels – Full House: 100 artists – group exhibition – 04/2014 Fondation EDF, Paris – Que la lumière soit – RewindableLight art video – 04/2014 2013 Galerist, Istanbul – Activated Nature – 11/2013 Enclos des Bernardins, Paris – RockGrowth installation – 09/2013 Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris – selection of artworks alongside the exhibition “Dans la ligne de mire” – 09/2013 Vitra Design Museum, Weil am Rhein – RewindableLight art video – Lightopia group exhibition – 09/2013 La Maison Champs Elysées, Paris – Crater_F210 and installation of other artworks – 09/2013 Galerie Maubert, Paris – Nouvelle Lune – group exhibition – 04/2013 Alcazar, Paris – Fractal installation and photo exhibition (Orchids and Seduction series) – 04/2013 Mitterrand+Cramer, Geneva – new sculptures – solo exhibition – 03/2013 2012 Passage de Retz, Paris – Nothing is quite as it seems – solo exhibition – 11/2012 Bisazza Foundation, Montecchio Maggiore – Experimental Growth – solo exhibition & permanent collection – 11/2012 Galerist, Istanbul – Le Jardin de la Spéculation Cosmique – group exhibition curated by Fatoş Üstek – 10/2012 Crystal Worlds Museum, Wattens – Transparent Opacity – two-year solo installation – 09/2012 Alon Segev Gallery, Tel Aviv – Genetic Intimacy – solo exhibition – 09/2012 London Design Museum, London – Osmosis Interactive installation at Swarovski’s Digital Crystal – group exhibition – 09/2012 Jardin du Hauvel, Saint-Hymer – Art et Nature – group exhibition curated by Jean-Gabriel Mitterrand – 06/2012 Hedge Gallery, San Francisco – Flections – group exhibition curated by Sabrina Buell – 06/2012 Priveekollektie, Heusden aan de Maas – EmotionalDeflection – solo exhibition – 05/2012 Galerie Maubert, Paris – Le Sacre du Printemps – group exhibition – 04/2012 Alon Segev Gallery, Tel Aviv – Arik Levy & Guy Yanai – group exhibition – 03/2012 Stonetouch, Geneva – Candelabra – group exhibition – Nuit des Bains – 03/2012 2011 Natural History Museum, London - installation - Regeneration : Chaton Superstructures at the Natural History Museum GM. Galerie, Paris – M+C group exhibition Galerie Pierre-Alain Challier, Paris – Un regard d'Obsidienne – group exhibition Design Museum Holon, Israel – Post Fossil: excavating 21st century creation – group exhibition – 21_21 Design Sight gallery, Tokyo – Reality Lab – group exhibition 2010 Alon Segev Gallery, Tel Aviv – Natural Disorder – solo exhibition Mitterrand+Cramer, Genève – Geotectonic – solo exhibition Priveekollektie, Heusden aan de Maas – My Name Is Arik – solo exhibition Istanbul Modern, Istanbul – Log Forest installation – Dice Kayek’s Istanbul Contrast Art Amsterdam, Amsterdam – Personality Disorder Social Codes – installation at No Holds Barred Eighth Veil Gallery, Los Angeles – Out there logging – solo exhibition Santa Monica Museum of Art, Santa Monica CA – Luminescence, between Fire & Ice – solo exhibition Lambretto Art Project, Milano – 13 798 grams of design – group exhibition 21_21 Design Sight gallery, Tokyo – Post Fossil: excavating 21st century creation – group exhibition 2009 Slott gallery, Paris – Confessions – solo installation in “Préliminaires” exhibition Kenny Schachter/ROVE, London – Fruit & Flowers – group exhibition Chaton Superstructures at the Liechtenstein Museum and TableScape architectural Jewellery at Sotheby’s, VIenna Osmosis commissioned by Swarovski Crystal Palace, Ex Magazzini di Porta Genova Milano – solo exhibition Oratorio Basilica di S. Ambrogio, Milano – Prophets & Penitents, Confessions of a Chair – group exhibition Galleria Nina Lumer, Milano – Love Design – group exhibition 2008 Design Miami, Miami – Beyond Organic: Design In the State of Nature – group exhibition Kenny Schachter/ROVE, London – Diversion – group exhibition Chatsworth, UK – Beyond Limits – group exhibition Sudeley Castle, UK – The Artist’s Playground – group exhibition Wright20, Chicago, IL – Absent Nature – solo exhibition Barbara Davis Gallery, Houston, TX – Imperative Design – group exhibition Galerie Alain Gutharc, Paris – Propositions lumineuses 2 – group exhibition Galerie NumerisCausa, Paris – Il était une fois… – group exhibition 2007 Kenny Schachter ROVE Projects LLP, London – Cosmic Nature - 2007The Mews Gallery by Rabih Hage, London – Sitting Pretty – exhibition of photos by Jonathan Root, featuring a portrait of Arik Levy with his creation Identity Disorder Dialogues méditerranéens, St. Tropez – BigRock – installation Centre des arts, Centre des arts - L’Autre – solo exhibition Drugstore Publicis, Paris – MiniMaxi – installation 2006 Baccarat, Paris – Phantom – installation Passage de Retz, Paris – BigRock – permanent installation Centre culturel français, Milan – République Libre du Design – installation Organ Passage de Retz / Mouvements modernes, Paris – Du Bois Dont On Se Chauffe – group exhibition 2005 Galerie Alain Gutharc, Paris – Propositions lumineuses – group exhibition Centre Pompidou, Paris – D.Day – From primitive to virtual - installation Garanti Gallery, Istanbul – Feel before you see – solo exhibition National Glass Centre/Glass Gallery, Sunderland, UK 2004 Park Ryusook Gallery, Seoul – Love counts – solo exhibition Victoria & Albert Museum, London – Brilliant – group exhibition 2002 and before Hertzlia Museum, Israel Video Zone Biennale – Two stars hotel – in collaboration with Sigalit Landau Pascale Cottard-Ollsson Gallery, Stockholm – solo exhibition Isart Contemporary Art Gallery, Munich – Virtual light Isart Contemporary Art Gallery, Munich – Virtual/Religious’ Sculpture Biennale Ein Hod, Israel – Humanism 2020 Louisiana Museum, Danemark – Design og identitet Sculpture Park, Jaffa, Israel – 1986 Museum acquisitions and collections Museum acquisitions The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago – Contemporary Domestic Confessional – 2010 Museum of Arts and Design, New York – Giant Giant Mega Heliodor – 2010 Triennale Design Museum, Milan – Meteorite drawing – 2009 Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris – installation Fractal Cloud – 2006 Seoul Arts Center, Hangaram Design Museum, Seoul – Umbilical Light – 2005 Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris – Handshake light – 2005 Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris – Piflow light – 2005 Victoria & Albert Museum, London – Umbilical ball and Umbilical knitted lights – 2004 Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris – Xm3 duo, Light pocket, Alchemy tube lights – 2002 Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris – Double layer chair, CD shelf – 2002 FNAC, Fond national d’art contemporain, Paris – Infinite light video – 2001 Israel Museum, Jerusalem – White hole light installation – 2001 Israel Museum, Jerusalem – Need light – 2000 Museum of Modern Art, New York – Need light – 1998 Collections Bisazza Foundation, Montecchio Maggiore – RockChamber + ExperimentalGrowth series – 2012 HSBC Connection Collection / Volume 1 – Rockshelves + Rocksplit – 2009 Competitions and awards 2016 German Design Award 2016 – Split chair collection by Arik Levy for Ton - Frankfurt Red Dot Award 2016 – Furniture Award – Split lounge chair for Ton - Essen Red Dot Award 2016 – Lighting Design – Stab Light for Danese Milano - Milan German Design Award 2016 – Bath & Wellness - Excellent Product Design - Bowl collection by Arik Levy for Inbani – Frankfurt 2015 GOOD DESIGN award (The Chicago Athenaeum :Museum of Architecture and Design) – Meisterstück EMERSO by Arik Levy for Kaldewei - Chicago 2015 German Design Award 2016 – Furniture - Excellent Product Design - Split collection by Arik Levy for TON – Frankfurt German Design Award 2016 – Bath & Wellness - Excellent Product Design - Bowl collection by Arik Levy for Inbani - Frankfurt EDIDA 2015 (Elle Decoration International Award) 2015 – Lighting category – Wireflow pendants by Arik Levy for Vibia - Milan Design Plus powered by ISH 2015 – Bowl collection by Arik Levy for Inbani - Frankfurt 2014 Design Plus powered by Light+Building 2014 : Best of Design Plus - Wireflow pendants by Arik Levy for Vibia – Frankfurt Wallpaper* Design Awards 2014 – Best line work – Wireflow pendants by Arik Levy for Vibia – London 2013 Interior Design Best of Year 2013 – Best floor and sconce lighting – Fold by Arik Levy for Vibia – New York 2011 Good Design award : Pattern collection for EMU – USA Design Plus powered by ISH 2011 award: best product – Structure collection for Inbani – Frankfurt 2010 Grand Prix Stratégies du Design 2010 : best Branding Packaging – bottle A Scent for Issey Miyak – Paris 2009 Red Dot Design Award : best product design 2009 – SH05 ARIE shelving system by E15 – Essen The Interior Innovation Award, category “Best of the Best” - SH05 Arie shelving system by E15 – Köln Wallpaper* Design Awards 2009 – Best new beds – Landscape by Arik Levy for Verardo – Italy Wallpaper* Design Awards 2009 – Best shelving – Fluid by Arik Levy for Desalto – Italy 2008 JANUS Award for Industry, design and innovation 2008 – Log Light by Saasz – Paris Label VIA, Torch table lamp by Baccarat – France, 2008 Red Dot Design Award : best product design 2008 – Mistic collection by Gaia & Gino – Essen, Germany ELLE Decoration International Design Awards 2008 – Designer of the year Wallpaper* Design Awards 2007 – Best modular furniture – Cubic Meter by A. Levy for Kenny Schachter – London Design PLUS Award 2008, Mitos glassware collection by Kvetna – Frankfurt Globes de Crystal Arts et Culture 2008 Paris Première – Best Designer – Paris 2007 JANUS Award for Industry, design and innovation 2007, Invisible system by Visplay – Paris Wallpaper* Design Awards 2007, Furniture designer of the year, finalist – London Wallpaper* Design Awards 2007 – Best centerpiece – Mistic collection by Gaia & Gino – London 2006 Design PLUS Award 2006, Mistic vase by Gaia&Gino 2005 The Interior Innovation Award, category “Best detail” 4to8 table by Desalto – Köln The Interior Innovation Award, category “Best detail” Liko glass table by Desalto – Köln Elle Decoration magazine Design Award for lighting (2nd edition) 2003 The Interior Innovation Award, category “Best of the Best” Liko table by Desalto – Köln 2002 Prix de l’Observeur du Design/APCI, Arik sofa by Ligne Roset – France Grand Prix de la Presse Internationale de la Critique du Meuble Contemporain, Arik sofa by Ligne Roset – France, 2002 Label VIA, Arik sofa by Ligne Roset – France, 2002 2001 Cartier international office furniture and light system in collaboration with Vitra Label VIA, Slim stacking chair by Ligne Roset – France, 2001 George Nelson Award, Interior magazine, 2001 2000 Label Via, U cd shelf by Ligne Roset – France, 2000 iF Award light fixtures – Germany, 2000 L'Express Best of category Light – France, 2000 Carte blanche VIA – France 1999 Label VIA, Light Pocket lamp by Ligne Roset – France Grand Prix de la Presse Internationale de la Critique du Meuble Contemporain, Cloud lamp – France Design PLUS Award 1999, Ambiente Fair, Seed porcelaine lamp – Frankfurt 1997 Mouvement français de la qualité – posters for “Qualité 97” campaign – Paris, 1997 1991 Seiko Epson (International Art Center Award) – Japan, 1991