David Salle's Lever House Installation Reimagines Philip Johnson's Glass House Display
Between October 25, 2012, and January 25, 2013, David Salle showcased six expansive paintings in the lobby of Lever House, located at 390 Park Avenue, New York City, under the title "Tapestries/Battles/Allegories." These artworks incorporated allegorical imagery inspired by 17th- and 18th-century Flemish tapestries, along with Salle's own inset visuals and vivid silhouettes. Curator Richard Marshall connected this exhibition to Philip Johnson's presentation of Poussin's "Burial of Phocian" (1648) at his Glass House (1949). Salle's pieces, such as "Standoff," "The River," and "Campaign," were displayed on panels, some oriented towards the street, with their striking colors prompting interactions with architectural and art historical narratives in Manhattan. Lever House, designed by Gordon Bunshaft in 1952, is situated opposite the Seagram Building (1958).
Key facts
- David Salle's exhibition ran from October 25, 2012 to January 25, 2013
- The show featured six large recent paintings at Lever House, 390 Park Avenue, New York City
- Works were based on 17th- and 18th-century Flemish tapestries with Salle's signature overlays
- Curator Richard Marshall related the installation to Philip Johnson's Glass House display of Poussin's "Burial of Phocian"
- Lever House was designed in 1952 by Gordon Bunshaft, facing the Seagram Building across Park Avenue
- Paintings included "Standoff," "The River," and "Campaign," visible through glass 24/7
- Salle's work referenced Yves Klein's nude rubbings through colored silhouettes
- The installation contrasted with Frank Stella's "Salto Nel Mio Sacco" (1985) at nearby Citicorp Center
Entities
Artists
- David Salle
- Frank Stella
- Yves Klein
- Poussin
- Philip Johnson
- Gordon Bunshaft
- Mies van der Rohe
Institutions
- Lever House
- Citicorp Center
- Glass House
- Seagram Building
Locations
- New York City
- United States
- Park Avenue
- Lexington Avenue
- 53rd Street
- Manhattan