Peter Harvey
Memorial,1993
Oil on canvas
39 x 32"
Collection the artist.
Photo by Peter Madero.

Peter Harvey at Risk Press Gallery

By Marc Arranaga

Peter Harvey’s exhibition of paintings, TEXT slash EROS, opened Mar. 3 at Risk Press Gallery. The group of canvases, never previously exhibited, consist of cautionary and erotic works displaying sexual acts in a manner more gestural than explicit, yet not in any way concealed.

Peter Harvey is well known as a Broadway and off-Broadway theater designer, and these paintings are a more private exposure of his diverse abilities, expanding upon the artist’s pursuit of personal expression in a manner that is not only provocative in terms of the subject matter, but that also is thought-provoking.

The "TEXT" paintings—a group of images with words—remind one of the fragility of life and the proximity of loss, while the canvases dealing with "EROS" depict the energy and affirmation of physical love. "These two constants—sex and death—are the major guiding forces in our lives," Harvey says. He has captured these possibilities in rich color, painterly energy and elegant descriptive line. These are canvases filled with “many lights, many colors and much joy," as renowned author James Purdy has described them.

Risk Press is a space devoted to giving a different artist each month the opportunity of experiencing an exclusive showing of their best work. Its mission is to provide a high quality and attractive space which, like a workshop, each artist can transform into his or her own unique event. Gallery hours are Wed.–Sat. 3-8pm. The gallery is located at 8533 Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood, CA.

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Peter Harvey, a long-time friend of Leslie/Lohman, was most recently represented at the gallery in “Feast of Desire” (2002). Peter Harvey is available for comments or interviews about his painting and theater design at 212-243-3794.

Marc Arrañaga is Visual Director, Marc Arrañaga Contemporary Art: 646-413-5560 or marranaga@sbcglobal.net.