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26 East 64th Street, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10065
212 585 2400
Leon Tovar is a New York-based gallery that promotes and showcases the finest examples of Latin American Modernism. In 1990, Mr. Tovar opened his first location in Bogotá, Colombia, with a presentation of work by Sol LeWitt and Bernar Venet, followed by exhibitions on Josef Albers, Carlos Rojas, Luis Camnitzer, Dennis Oppenheim, and Eduardo Ramírez Villamizar. In 2002, Mr. Tovar moved his operation to New York City’s Upper East Side, where he was among the first galleries to exhibit the geometric, kinetic, optical, and constructivist tendencies practiced by Latin America’s vanguard artists. His expertise in the field was informed by his personal relationships with many artists, among them Carlos Cruz-Diez, Jesús Rafael Soto, Carlos Rojas, Edgar Negret, and Eduardo Ramírez Villamizar, as he endeavored to increase the visibility of art from Latin America and its place within a global discussion of modernism.

After twenty-five years of programming, Mr. Tovar opened his second location in New York’s NoMAD neighborhood in 2015, which hosted numerous group and solo exhibitions, featuring the artists Edgar Negret, Jesús Rafael Soto, Fanny Sanín, Carmelo Arden Quin, and Agustín Fernández. In addition to maintaining regular exhibition programming including tours and panels, the Gallery is a consistent presence in major international art fairs in the U.S., South America, and Europe. The Gallery’s endeavors at these and other events have been covered in El Pais, The New York Times, Hyperallergic, Ocula, The Wall Street Journal Magazine, Forbes, The Art Newspaper, and Modern Magazine. In the spring of 2019, Leon Tovar Gallery moved its second location to the Upper East Side at 2 East 75th Street.
Concurrent with his role as Gallery Director, Mr. Tovar has provided consultation to museums, auction houses, collectors, curators, appraisers, and artists, and has served on selections committees for the ARTBO and ARCO Madrid art fairs. His published articles appear in such publications as Summus and Revista Credencial, and he was a featured panelist in Latin American Art Now (2017), Art, Nationality, and Global Modernism (2018), and Where is Latin American Art? Center Stage (2019), all of which were hosted by TEFAF New York.
Artists Represented:
The Estate of Carmelo Arden Quin
The Estate of Marcelo Bonevardi
The Estate of Martín Blaszko
The Estate of Agustín Fernández
Fanny Sanín

Works Available By:
Carmelo Arden Quin
Marcelo Bonevardi
Martín Blaszko 
Tarsila do Amaral
Agustín Fernández 
Edgar Negret
Eduardo Ramírez Villamizar 
Fanny Sanín
Feliza Bursztyn
Sergio Camargo
Santiago Cárdenas
Carlos Cruz- Diez
Marisol Escobar
Manuel Espinosa 
Gonzalo Fonseca
Gego
Mathias Goeritz
Gyula Kosice
Wifredo Lam
Roberto Matta
Julio Le Parc
Cesar Paternosto
Omar Rayo
Jesús Rafael Soto
Alejandro Otero
Alejandro Puente
Carlos Rojas
Mira Schendel
Francisco Salazar
Luis Tomasello
Victor Vasarely

 

 
Leon Tovar Gallery
Leon Tovar Gallery
Leon Tovar Gallery
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Past Exhibitions

Need, Omar Rayo, Francisco Salazar, Jesús Rafael Soto, Le Parc, Tomasello

Shifting Planes: Op Explorations in Latin American Abstraction



January 25, 2024 - December 31, 1969
Leon Tovar Gallery is pleased to present Shifting Planes: Op Explorations in Latin American Abstraction opening January 25th, 2024 featuring 14 works by renowned artists Nedo (b. Milan, Italy 1926 – d. Caracas, Venezuela 2001), Julio le Parc (b. Mendoza, Argentina 1928 – ), Omar Rayo (b. Roldanillo, Colombia 1928 – d. Palmira, Colombia 2010), Francisco Salazar (b. Quiriquire, Venezuela 1929 – d. Paris, France 2018), Jesús Rafael Soto (b. Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela 1923 – d. Paris, France 2005), and Luis Tomasello (b. La Plata, Argentina 1915 – d. Paris, France 2014). From static form to animated experimentation, Shifting Planes: Op Explorations in Latin American Abstraction chronicles a pivotal transition in Latin American art. Indeed, Nedo, le Parc, Rayo, Salazar, Soto, and Tomasello demonstrated – in their own ways and through their own contributions – the region’s capabilities for global dialogue through a new visual language emanating from its diverse cultural matrix. By boldly expanding artistic frontiers, these five artists participated in the region's assertion of its existing cultural dynamism and possibilities. Their pioneering contributions relocated Latin America from its place on the periphery of modernism to the center of vanguard movements. The arc traced from quiescence to motion mirrors Latin America's shift from overlooked to recognized, and acclaimed. To evoke Cuban historian Alejo Carpentier, these artists participated in the heralding of Latin America’s transition from object of interpretation to proponent of a new grammar that would irrevocably change the history of universal artistic thought. Shifting Planes aims to spotlight the works of these genre-defining artists, creators of an abstract visual language in constant flux, a result of their explorations with kinetics, perception, and transience. Each one of these artists contributed their own take on these experimentations, from Rayo’s fusing of geometric abstraction with Colombian folklore – blending Op Art compositions with representations of traditional dances, festivals, masks, and indigenous mythology; to Le Parc’s pioneering participatory environments that continually shift to reveal the relativity of reality and visual experience… Along with Nedo, Salazar, and Soto; the works presented here ultimately exhibit creativity freed from constraints. No longer limited to inertia, the viewer is invited to engage. The once static frame energized into endless welcoming and possibility.

Agustín Fernández

Agustin Fernandez: Navigating the Line



October 26, 2023 - December 18, 2023

Rufino Tamayo, Diego Rivera, Fernando Botero, Ana Mercedes Hoyos, Agustín Cárdenas, Santiago Cárdenas, Luis Alberto Acuña, Armando Morales, Armando Villegas, David Manzur, Luis Arenal, Edgar Negret, Claudio Bravo, Juan Cárdenas, Enrique Climent

80 Years of Latin American Figuration



August 21, 2023 - October 15, 2023
"80 Years of Latin American Figuration" is an exploration of the evolution of figurative art across Latin America. Running until August 30th, this viewing offers a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in the vivid world of figuration, where the boundaries of time, style, and technique blur to reveal the heart of artistic expression. At the heart of this exhibition lies a harmonious juxtaposition of renowned figurative visionaries Fernando Botero, Rufino Tamayo, and Diego Rivera, among many others. This collection unites these artists, despite their distinct stylistic hallmarks and the temporal spaces that separate them, in a symphony of human portrayal. Here, the canvas becomes a stage where individual voices resound, each articulating the human form in its distinctive rhythm. Walking through the gallery, visitors encounter an extraordinary visual dialogue as artworks from different epochs stand shoulder to shoulder, united by their exploration of the human figure. The chronological arrangement, commencing with the arresting works of Luis Alberto Acuña and culminating in the exuberant works of Ana Mercedes Hoyos, invites viewers to traverse through time and witness the vibrant evolution of figurative expression over the past eight decades. The diversity within the collection transcends geographical borders, presenting a rich tapestry of styles that have flourished across various Latin American nations. The collection reflects the myriad ways artists have portrayed human figures, both in reverence to tradition and as innovative departures from the norm. Each canvas tells a unique story, from Santiago Cárdenas' pioneering spirit to Hoyos' contemporary introspection. As the vibrant strokes of Negret's early works give way to the lush and voluptuous forms of Botero's subjects, visitors can witness how time has shaped the lens through which artists perceive the world. Tamayo's intricate interplay of color and emotion unfolds in dialogue with Rivera's monumental narratives, showcasing the nuanced spectrum of figuration across Latin America. "80 Years of Latin American Figuration" invites us to celebrate the plurality of voices and visions that have shaped the artistic landscape of Latin America. Through this exhibition, we honor not only the individual artists but also the shared human experience that has inspired them to create. Join us on this journey, where figures come alive, and time dances on canvas.

Francisco Salazar, Alejandro Otero, Julio le Parc, Eduardo Ramirez-Villamizar

Sublime Simplicity, White as a Medium of Expression



June 10, 2023 - August 5, 2023
Leon Tovar Gallery is proud to present an essential group exhibition featuring the works of key conceptual minimalist artists Francisco Salazar, Alejandro Otero, Julio le Parc, and Eduardo Ramirez Villamizar. "Sublime Simplicity, White as a Medium of Expression" invites you to immerse yourself in a captivating journey through the artists' unique expressions, where form and materiality intertwine to create striking visual narratives. At the heart of this exhibition are Francisco Salazar's works on corrugated cardboard and wood, showcasing his distinctive style and medium. Each piece carries its own story, inviting us to delve into a world where abstract shapes and vibrant colors dance across the surfaces. Un trou, Number 825 mesmerizes with its dynamic composition, while Deux vide et un plein, No 832 / 1987 beckons us to explore the delicate balance between negative and positive spaces, emptiness and fullness. Salazar's artistic practice, rooted in a profound understanding of materials, allowed him to breathe life into his works. Through his meticulous technique, he transformed humble mediums into works of art that strategically exude both strength and fragility. The rhythmic textures and tactile surfaces of No. 805 and Number 830 invite the viewer to sense the artist's energy and passion emanating from within.

Carmelo Arden Quin, Martin Blaszko, Marcelo Bonevardi, Eugenio Carmi, Manuel Espinosa, Gonzalo Fonseca, Maria Freire, Gego, Joao Carlos Galváo, Horacio Garcia Rossi, Ana Mercedes Hoyos, Enio Iommi, Nedo, Edgar Negret, César Paternosto, Rogelio Polesello, Omar Rayo, Luiz Sacilotto, Fanny Sanin, Jesús Rafael Soto, Luis Tomasello, Oswaldo Vigas, Eduardo Ramirez Villamizar

Tsunami



March 9, 2023 - April 19, 2023
Tsunami is a tribute to the wave of modern Latin American art that swept over the world, bringing with it a fresh and unique perspective on abstract expressionism, constructivism, geometric abstraction, and kinetic art. The exhibit will feature both painting and sculpture and will encompass the Argentine Madi Art and Concrete Art movements, Brazilian Constructivism, Geometric Abstraction, Kinetic Art and more organic abstract works that emanated from the region during the mid to second half of the 20th century. Leon Tovar Gallery has curated an immersive experience, with each work carefully selected to showcase the full range and depth of the featured art movements. The gallery prides itself in presenting pioneering artists and works that have transcended time, and will continue doing so.

Omar Rayo

Larutan atur al



November 3, 2022 - January 13, 2023
Leon Tovar Gallery is pleased to announce its new solo exhibition featuring the extraordinary works by newly represented artist: Omar Rayo – Larutan atur al This solo show is an homage to Omar Rayo’s work, to his travels and to his vision, inspired by ancient civilizations and numerous encounters with indigenous people, artifacts, symbols, and signs, that left an evident imprint on him. Per the exhibition title - a palindrome - one of Rayo’s favorite word structures, this exhibition conveys the natural route to our origins. This exhibition showcases paintings made from the 1960’s to the early 2000’s. These pieces show his refined technique, his exactitude and tremendous skill throughout his career. Some of these pieces will be shown to the public for the first time. This show has been possible thanks to the collaboration of the Rayo Museum and its entire team, especially its director, Águeda Pizarro de Rayo, and Sara Rayo.

Jesus Rafael Soto

Invisible: A Tale of Ethereal Lines



May 5, 2022 - July 9, 2022
Leon Tovar gallery is pleased to announce is latest show “Invisible: A tale of ethereal lines,” highlighting the work of Jesús Rafael Soto. In Paris, Soto questioned the tradition of geometric abstraction inherited from Piet Mondrian on the grounds that it did not break sufficiently with representation. In order to move “beyond Mondrian,” he brought painting into the realm of lived space and time by working in layers, at first by painting on and combining transparencies, then later working with wire, wood, and other materials placed in front of an alternating linear background. As viewers move in front of these patterned layers, they experience electrifying optical sensations, as foreground and background moves in a pulsing interplay. Unlike traditional painting, there are a multiplicity of vantage points for these works, and they exist in a state of constant change relative to the viewer’s position. Aesthetic creation becomes the work of the spectator, and no longer of an individual artist. In the late ’50s and early ’60s, Soto became close with members of Nouveau Réalism, particularly Yves Klein, as well as Group Zero. Intrigued by Klein’s desire to incorporate elements of daily life into his artistic production, Soto’s art from this period utilizes objects of a durable and rough materiality—wood, “twisted wires, rough stucco, fabric.” His mission, however, is precisely to overcome this materiality, to render the objects as immaterial through the power of optical effects. Soto described his endeavors as “taking the most insignificant but strongly formal objects—old wood, wire, needles, gratings, pipes—to integrate them into the work and bring them to a state of disintegration through pure vibration.” Thus, Soto was able to present the constant movement and flux of our universe, the essential energy of it. The artist explains his conception of the universe as follows: “...I have never sought to show reality caught at one precise moment, but, on the contrary, to reveal universal change, of which temporality and infinitude are the constituent values. The universe, I believe, is uncertain and unsettled. The same must be true of my work.” The show touches upon Soto’s own experiments with vibrations produced by this simple sequencing of black and white parallel lines to also prioritize the present moment of perception, but in doing so powerfully illustrate the constantly shifting nature of our universe and of matter itself.