Harold Stevenson

After presenting the first monographic exhibition of Harold Stevenson (1929-2018) in Italy at its Venice gallery in 2024, Tommaso Calabro continues to expand research on the American artist by unveiling in New York a new selection of works, executed between the late 1950s and the 1970s, within an exhibition design by Filippo Bisagni.

A key figure in post-war avant-garde culture, Harold Stevenson is remembered for his provocative paintings of male nudes and enlarged body parts, challenging conventions of representation and establishing himself as one of the most daring artists of his time.

Stevenson began his career in New York in the late 1940s, immersing himself in the city’s vibrant art scene and forming lasting connections with figures like Andy Warhol. In the 1960s, he moved to Paris and, with the support of Alexander Iolas and Iris Clert, gained international recognition through landmark shows such as the New Realists exhibition at Sidney Janis Gallery (1962), the Piccola Biennale (1962), and the Biennale Flottante (1964) in Venice - where he developed a lasting bond with the city.

In New York, Tommaso Calabro presents a curated selection of paintings and works on paper executed between the late 1950s and the 1970s. At the heart of the exhibition is Altar of Peace (1972), a monumental painting first shown in 1973 at the Alexander Iolas Gallery in New York, and one of Stevenson’s most politically charged works.

The exhibition offers the opportunity to engage more deeply with an artist who not only defied societal norms through his fearless exploration of the human form, but also expanded the boundaries of intimacy, identity, and representation in contemporary art, affirming his place as a visionary ahead of his time.

A parallel exhibition of Stevenson’s work will be on view at Andrew Kreps Gallery, 22 Cortlandt Alley, from April 25 to May 31. The exhibition, curated with Schwartzman&, includes works made between 1962 and 2004 and demonstrates the myriad ways in which Stevenson used the body as a tool for communication. A reception for both exhibitions will be held on Friday, May 2nd, from 6 pm to 8 pm.