Born in Montreal, New York City-based sculptor David Altmejd's highly anticipated next show opens tomorrow at Andrea Rosen Gallery in New York. Canada's representative at the Venice Biennale in 2007, Altmejd has had a startlingly successful career since graduating from Columbia University in 2001. Almost immediately after receiving his Masters of Fine Arts, he was invited to participate in important international biennials such as those in Istanbul and in New York at the Whitney Museum of American Art. In 2009 he was awarded the Sobey Art Award.
Altmejd's sculptures are complex, beautiful and sometimes difficult to comprehend. Dense, symbolic, and using a vast variety of materials (including, among other items, taxidermy, glass, chains, plastic flowers and mirrors), he is best known for his crystalline werewolf heads and human-form giants. These works are not simple; the artist insists viewers invest thought and energy into experiences with the works.
Serious collectors and institutions have taken notice and Altmejd has been enjoying international acclaim and attention for years though he is still under 40 years old. His weird and raw works are frequently discussed in the important art journals and we expect this show to be a magnet for continued attention.
David Altmejd
Andrea Rosen Gallery
525 West 24 Street, New York City
March 18 - April 23, 2011
Opening reception: Thursday, March 17, 6-8pm
By Randy Gladman for The Ministry of Artistic Affairs. Randy interviewed the artist in 2003 at the Istanbul Biennial.
