Steve Nocella
Facture is pleased to present recent work by Steve Nocella. Mr. Nocella received an MFA from University of Pennsylvania and a BFA from Philadelphia College of Art. He has been represented by multiple Philadelphia galleries including The Sande Webster Gallery, from 1995 to 1999. He is an Associate Professor of Sculpture at The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia, 1988 - present, and a Senior Lecturer of Sculpture at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, 1988 - 2017.
These sculptures reflect the anxieties that characterize living in the new millennium and facing a future that holds the potential for catastrophic events, such as; virulent pandemics, environmental collapse, and violent sociopolitical conflicts. They reference helmets, facemasks, respirators, and other devices that we use to protect ourselves from, violence, toxicity, and disease.
The more literal gas mask like images were made in the context of the toxic politics leading up to the 2020 elections and were meant to be a comment on how our selective filtering is a diminishing of our perception. However, the pandemic was soon to erupt and masks had a new relevance. This launched a more involved exploration of the mask motif that eventually led to the series Head With Helmet and Facemasks.
Opening reception: April 12, 6-8 PM.
Gallery hours by appointment.