Grant Levy-Lucero

Pedigree

September 24–November 2, 2019
Three painted ceramic vessels resembling pitchers or urns on a white shelf. From left to right, Brie’s Cesar, Olive’s Milk-Bone and Vincent and Gala’s Pedigree.

Grant Levy-Lucero, installation view, 2019

Twelve painted ceramic vessels on a three-level pedestal resembling a winners’ podium, with four vessels on each step. Each vessel references a brand of dog food.

Grant Levy-Lucero, installation view, 2019

Twelve ceramic vessels on a three-level pedestal lined up against a wall to the left. Portrait of Grant Levy-Lucero and Monkey by Henry Taylor is installed on the adjacent wall.

Grant Levy-Lucero, installation view, 2019

Four painted ceramic vessels on a section of pedestal. From left to right, Wild Dogs’ Prairie, Augie’s Alpo, Monkey’s Kibbles ‘n Bits, Science Diet Dogs’ Playing Poker.

Grant Levy-Lucero, installation view, 2019

Portrait of Grant Levy-Lucero and Monkey by Henry Taylor, installed on a white wall. A painting of a person wearing a lime green shirt with a white dog seated on their lap.

Grant Levy-Lucero, installation view, 2019

Four painted ceramic vessels resembling pitchers or urns on a section of pedestal. From left to right, Pnut’s Iams, Dachshunds’ Joy, Colombo’s Pedigree, Bill’s Dog Chow.

Grant Levy-Lucero, installation view, 2019

A bright yellow vessel with two handles on either side of a tall neck. The “Pedigree” logo is painted on it above the text “BIGDOG,” two sitting Huskies and a plate of food.

Grant Levy-Lucero

Vincent and Gala’s Pedigree, 2019

Stoneware and glaze

29 × 13 × 13 in.

A purple vessel with a large handle. A black dog sitting in a green field above the “Dog Chow” logo is painted on it. The logo is purple instead of its usual green.

Grant Levy-Lucero

Bill’s Dog Chow, 2019

Stoneware and glaze

24 × 13 × 9 in.

Grant Levy-Lucero Taste of the Wild Dogs’ River, 2019 Stoneware and glaze 21 x 15 x 16 in. (A frontal view of Taste of the Wild Dogs’ River, a short, wide vessel with two handles on either side of the stout neck. The "Taste of the Wild” logo is written around the neck of the vessel, superimposed on a depiction of a mountain that’s part of a larger scenic landscape. Below the logo are several dogs, either frolicking and catching fish in a river or resting on the grassy river banks.)

Grant Levy-Lucero

Taste of the Wild Dogs’ River, 2019

Stoneware and glaze

21 × 15 × 16 in.

Press Release

White Columns is pleased to announce ‘Pedigree’ the Los Angeles-based artist Grant Levy-Lucero’s first solo exhibition in New York.

The exhibition comprises fifteen of Levy-Lucero’s signature ceramic ‘vessels’: self-consciously hand- built, oversized urn- or pitcher-like pots, each identified by the name of an immediately recognizable brand of dog food (e.g. ‘Pedigree’, ‘Gravy Train’, etc.) Each pot also features a portrait – or in some cases multiple portraits – of the rescue dogs that belong to Levy-Lucero’s extended circle of friends in Los Angeles (and beyond.) This idea of ‘community’, of friendships and relationships, and the complexity of the human-animal bond permeates throughout Levy-Lucero’s project. (A notion amplified in the exhibition by the presence of a portrait of Levy-Lucero and his dog Monkey by his friend, the Los Angeles-based artist, Henry Taylor.)

Displayed on a shelf and a stepped approximation of a winner’s podium – with its inevitable emphasis on the hierarchies of 1st, 2nd and 3rd place – Levy-Lucero’s pots might also be read as ‘trophies’ (of a kind). Employing humor aligned with vernacular aesthetics Levy-Lucero’s work is perhaps best characterized by its accessibility. Yet appearances can be deceptive. Indeed the exhibition as a whole, with its arch, even sardonic title ‘Pedigree’, and all that that stands for, might be understood as a gently subversive yet pointed critique of the competitive ‘dog eat dog’ nature of both the art world and the Westminster Dog Show: where the aspiration to become the “best in show” (sadly) still prevails.

As a part of the exhibition a percentage of proceeds from sales will be donated to the North Shore Animal League America, a leader in the ‘No Kill Movement’, who since 1944 have saved the lives of more than one million dogs and cats. Their mission is to: “Rescue. Nurture. Adopt. Educate.” To learn more about their vital work visit: www.animalleague.org

Grant Levy-Lucero (b.1981, Los Angeles) has had solo exhibitions at VNH, Paris (2018); Night Gallery, Los Angeles (2017); and at Henry Taylor’s, Los Angeles (2016.) He recently created a capsule clothing collection for the Stockholm-based Acne Studios. He currently lives and works in Los Angeles.
A work by Grant Levy-Lucero is also on view in ‘Niece Cousin Kin Look How Long It’s Been’, Henry Taylor’s concurrent exhibition at Blum & Poe New York. September 24 – November 2. www.blumandpoe.com

White Columns would like to thank everyone at Night Gallery, Los Angeles for their enthusiasm and support in bringing Grant’s work to New York.

For further information, contact: info@whitecolumns.org

Checklist

Three painted ceramic vessels resembling pitchers or urns on a white shelf. From left to right, Brie’s Cesar, Olive’s Milk-Bone and Vincent and Gala’s Pedigree.
Twelve painted ceramic vessels on a three-level pedestal resembling a winners’ podium, with four vessels on each step. Each vessel references a brand of dog food.
Twelve ceramic vessels on a three-level pedestal lined up against a wall to the left. Portrait of Grant Levy-Lucero and Monkey by Henry Taylor is installed on the adjacent wall.
Four painted ceramic vessels on a section of pedestal. From left to right, Wild Dogs’ Prairie, Augie’s Alpo, Monkey’s Kibbles ‘n Bits, Science Diet Dogs’ Playing Poker.
Portrait of Grant Levy-Lucero and Monkey by Henry Taylor, installed on a white wall. A painting of a person wearing a lime green shirt with a white dog seated on their lap.
Four painted ceramic vessels resembling pitchers or urns on a section of pedestal. From left to right, Pnut’s Iams, Dachshunds’ Joy, Colombo’s Pedigree, Bill’s Dog Chow.
A bright yellow vessel with two handles on either side of a tall neck. The “Pedigree” logo is painted on it above the text “BIGDOG,” two sitting Huskies and a plate of food.
A purple vessel with a large handle. A black dog sitting in a green field above the “Dog Chow” logo is painted on it. The logo is purple instead of its usual green.
Grant Levy-Lucero Taste of the Wild Dogs’ River, 2019 Stoneware and glaze 21 x 15 x 16 in. (A frontal view of Taste of the Wild Dogs’ River, a short, wide vessel with two handles on either side of the stout neck. The "Taste of the Wild” logo is written around the neck of the vessel, superimposed on a depiction of a mountain that’s part of a larger scenic landscape. Below the logo are several dogs, either frolicking and catching fish in a river or resting on the grassy river banks.)

Grant Levy-Lucero, installation view, 2019 (Three painted ceramic vessels resembling pitchers or urns on a white shelf. From left to right, Brie’s Cesar, Olive’s Milk-Bone and Vincent and Gala’s Pedigree.)

Grant Levy-Lucero, installation view, 2019 (Twelve painted ceramic vessels on a three-level pedestal resembling a winners’ podium, with four vessels on each step. Each vessel references a brand of dog food.)

Grant Levy-Lucero, installation view, 2019 (Twelve ceramic vessels on a three-level pedestal lined up against a wall to the left. Portrait of Grant Levy-Lucero and Monkey by Henry Taylor is installed on the adjacent wall.)

Grant Levy-Lucero, installation view, 2019 (Four painted ceramic vessels on a section of pedestal. From left to right, Wild Dogs’ Prairie, Augie’s Alpo, Monkey’s Kibbles ‘n Bits, Science Diet Dogs’ Playing Poker.)

Grant Levy-Lucero, installation view, 2019 (Portrait of Grant Levy-Lucero and Monkey by Henry Taylor, installed on a white wall. A painting of a person wearing a lime green shirt with a white dog seated on their lap.)

Grant Levy-Lucero, installation view, 2019 (Four painted ceramic vessels resembling pitchers or urns on a section of pedestal. From left to right, Pnut’s Iams, Dachshunds’ Joy, Colombo’s Pedigree, Bill’s Dog Chow.)

Grant Levy-Lucero Vincent and Gala’s Pedigree, 2019 Stoneware and glaze 29 × 13 × 13 in. (A bright yellow vessel with two handles on either side of a tall neck. The “Pedigree” logo is painted on it above the text “BIGDOG,” two sitting Huskies and a plate of food.)

Grant Levy-Lucero Bill’s Dog Chow, 2019 Stoneware and glaze 24 × 13 × 9 in. (A purple vessel with a large handle. A black dog sitting in a green field above the “Dog Chow” logo is painted on it. The logo is purple instead of its usual green.)

Grant Levy-Lucero Taste of the Wild Dogs’ River, 2019 Stoneware and glaze 21 × 15 × 16 in. (A wide vessel with two handles on either side of its neck. The “Taste of the Wild” logo is painted on it, over a mountain river scene with several frolicking dogs.)