Art Levy found a passion for art early on, majoring in art and painting as an undergraduate. He then went to medical school and spent the next 25 years as a cardiovascular surgeon. After retiring, Dr. Levy returned to art. He discovered and fell in love with the encaustic processes and has spent the last 18 years developing his voice and style. Throughout his career as an artist, Dr. Levy has continued to be fascinated by science – biology, physics, physiology – and he has created series on topics such as cell physiology and the Big Bang theory. His artwork has also explored the origins of language and the passage of time.
Is there a specific person or school that influenced you to be an artist?
My strongest and earliest influence was my high school art teacher. She encouraged me to explore possibilities, she was my mentor and confidant as well. I had never had any formal instruction until her classroom. She helped me to realize how much the art world meant to me and helped guide me down the pathway to creativity.
What was the inspiration for this piece?
I became obsessed with the big bang theory, the fact that the universe was constantly expanding. The result...the cosmic perspective series of work. The image attached is, "Fury " one of my favorites.
What drew you to encaustics?
The ancient nature of the process drew me in. The flexibility, the smell of the wax, the intense color and the surprising images that seemed to evolve. It was love at first sight.
Tell us a little bit about your Lifeforms series.
This series was a function of both my medical career and my long term interest in cellular forms. I took several courses in histology and was amazed by the beauty of the stained images under the microscope. Seemed like a natural transition to the art world.
Have you noticed any changes in the local arts scene recently?
Yes, I am much more isolated . Gallery openings absent. The comradeship that I enjoyed with the art community diminished. I have become more introspective.
How has your time as a cardiovascular surgeon affected your work as an artist?
Cardiovascular surgery was intense frequently dealing with life and death situations. Perhaps I appreciate the beauty of my surroundings a bit more. My paintings are an attempt to evoke emotion, the affirmative nature of life's possibilities. I just have learned how fragile and unpredictable our life is.