Front Cover: Synergy 146 X 160 cm, Edition of 150, Hand Painted Metal
Solo Exhibition October 2014
CATTO GALLERY 100 Heath Street • Hampstead • London NW3 1DP Tel: +44 (0)20 7435 6660 • art@cattogallery.co.uk 3
David Gerstein was born in Jerusalem in 1944, and studied in Paris, New York and London as well as his home city. He is one of Israel’s most prominent artists – with pieces exhibited at the Rosenfeld Gallery in the heart of Tel Aviv. His statues feature in many Israeli cities, and adorn public spaces in museums, universities, playgrounds and television studios. Reproductions of his works have been published in all Israeli newspapers; and have appeared on huge billboards. As a boy he made his own toys from anything that came to hand – thus people and cars were cut out of cardboard, with windows, wheels and doors painted on. The same joyful colours are used in his wall-sculptures today. In his trademark cut-outs (even though most are fashioned in three layers) - something can still be seen of the two-dimensional painted cars and toys of his youth. In this new show we are delighted to include a selection of David's paintings, on display for the first time in the UK.The collection is diverse – ‘Open To The Sea’ reveals familiar Gerstein tropes – not least the vase of flowers – as does the trompe L'oeil ‘Three Tubes Of Paint’. Other works are more abstract in concept while ‘Golden Fishes’ goes to the other extreme: a lovely traditional work that reveals a side to the artist we rarely see. The paintings are a delight. But the bulk of the show is, of course, wall sculpture. David has grown an international reputation for this signature style, which he first discovered in 1995 when he began laser cutting in metal his computer-generated ideas. One of the most delightful new works for this Catto show is ‘My Palette’. This wall sculpture comprises an array of paint tubes suspended in mid-air, each held in space by a thin stream of paint growing out of an artist's palette. It has all the elements of classic Gerstein – exuberant colours, a lovely dancing arrangement, an element of abstraction and a touch of wit. Today, his approach remains the same. He uses paints acquired from suppliers to the automobile industry, which is lacquered to give a gleaming 'showroom' effect. The end result clearly owes a debt to the pop art of Jasper Johns, Frank Stella and Roy Lichtenstein. Like these masters, David takes pleasure in the paraphernalia of daily life and in vivacious primary colours. Other new pieces worth looking out for include ‘Synergie’ and ‘Happy Hour’ with their butterfly armies, and the pun-filled ‘Art Attack’, comprising an array of brushstrokes enclosing a metal heart. Elsewhere, Gerstein fans will welcome another chance to enjoy his trademark blurs of cyclists, butterflies, dancers, joggers and more.
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ART ATTACK 76 X 169 cm, Edition of 150, Hand Painted Metal
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5TH AVENUE E 69 X 78 cm, Edition of 150, Hand Painted Metal
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5TH AVENUE F 76 X 69 cm, Edition of 150, Hand Painted Metal
5TH AVENUE G 73 X 69 cm, Edition of 150, Hand Painted Metal
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MY PALETTE 90 X 60 cm, Edition of 75, Hand Painted Metal
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LONDON BOUQUET 100 X 76 cm, Edition of 95, Hand Painted Metal
AMSTERDAM BOUQUET 100 X 78 cm, Edition of 95, Hand Painted Metal
TEL AVIV BOUQUET 100 X 77 cm, Edition of 95, Hand Painted Metal 9
Paintings by David Gerstein
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GOLDEN FISH 140 X 180 cm Oil on Board
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THREE TUBES WITH PAINTING 30 X 40 cm Oil on Board
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OPEN TO THE SEA 140 X 180 cm Oil on Board
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LANDSCAPE WITH A BIRD 60 X 80 cm Oil on Board
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VIEW OF NAHAM 100 X 120 cm Oil on Board 15
BLOSOM GARDEN WITH PATHS 80 X 60 cm Oil on Board
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HAPPY HOURS 160 X 152 cm, Edition 150, Hand Painted Metal 17
ELEGANCE 140 X 65 cm, Edition of 150, Hand Painted Metal
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ECSTASY 60 X 48 cm, Edition of 150, Hand Painted Metal
TRANCE 50 X 45 cm, Edition of 150, Hand Painted Metal
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GRAFFITI HEART 87 X 79 cm, Edition of 150, Hand Painted Metal 20
ITS A DATE 50 X 68 cm, Edition of 150, Hand Painted Metal
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BURNING LIPS 120 X 198 cm, Edition of 150, Hand Painted Metal 22
FRENCH WINDOW 72 X 46 cm, Edition of 150, Hand Painted Metal
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BIG PELOTON WAVE B 78 X 163 cm, Edition of 150, Hand Painted Metal
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BIG PELOTON WAVE A 75 X 156 cm, Edition of 150, Hand Painted Metal
TOUR DE FRANCE (HORIZONTAL) 180 X 70 cm, Edition of 150, Hand Painted Metal
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SMALL OBJECTS David Gerstein’s collection of small metal objects make perfect gifts (even to oneself)! Ranging in price from £90 - £250, just phone the gallery on 020 7435 6660 and place your order. Delivery can take up to 6 weeks (depending on what we have in stock).
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CHAMPION
HEART (STROKES OF LOVE)
COW / NAVA
BUTTERFLY / VERED
POPPIES (LARGE)
CYCLE BOWL (LARGE)
100 KISSES
ACKRE BIRD
BUTTERFLY / NAOMI
BUTTERFLY / ALONA
NEW DANCERS
COW / ELZA
WIGGINS
BUTTERFLIES FOREVER
JOG MAN
HANUKIA-BUTTERFLIES
SPRING RIDE
WALKING PAST (TRIPTYCH) Back Cover: Dancing Heart 60 X 31 cm, Edition 150, Hand Painted Metal
CATTO GALLERY 100 Heath Street • Hampstead • London NW3 1DP Tel: +44 (0)20 7435 6660 • www.cattogallery.co.uk • art@cattogallery.co.uk Opening times: 10am - 6pm Mon - Sat • 12.30pm - 6pm Sunday • and by appointment
EXHIBITION DATES: 23rd October - 11th November 2014