Les Levine
(1935–)
Les Levine
1935–
Les Levine (1935– ) is an Irish American artist known for his pioneering work with mass communication, video, and conceptual art. He used new tools and technologies to create visually striking and intellectually stimulating art, making him one of the originators of media art. In 1965, Levine was among the first artists, alongside Nam June Paik, to incorporate portable video cameras, known as portapaks, which allowed him to capture and disseminate his art via television. Levine came up with the idea of disposable art early in his career and was called the “Plastic Man.”
Levine was born in Dublin, Ireland. He first studied at the Central School of Arts and Crafts in London before moving to Toronto in 1958, where Levine continued his training at the New School of Art.
Levine’s artistic practice includes painting, sculpture, installation, performance work, mail art, and artist's books. He gained recognition in Canada through solo exhibitions at the David Mirvish Gallery, Hart House, the Isaacs Gallery, and the Art Gallery of Ontario. After moving to New York City in 1964, Levine quickly became one of the most exhibited artists of his generation. In 1966, Levine sold vacuum-formed plastic reliefs in various colors for $3-$6 each, challenging the idea of art as precious objects. Wiretap, a collection at the National Gallery of Canada, features 12 speakers playing 12 hours of recorded conversations about art production. It proposed that the process of making art is as important as the end product.
Levine’s work includes over 200 videos and 100+ solo exhibitions, including successful billboard campaigns in 1980’s in LA and Minneapolis and a project featuring 4000 images in the NYC subway. He has exhibited at galleries such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, the Walker Art Centre in Minneapolis, the Albright Knox Gallery in Buffalo, and the Vancouver Art Gallery.