Evan Lobel on Alchemy: The Art of Philip and Kelvin LaVerne

As a father-son artistic team, Philip and Kelvin LaVerne have collaborated on hundreds of unique and complex works, now featured in a new book written in collaboration with Kelvin by New York gallerist Evan Lobel. A decade in the making, Alchemy: The Art of Philip and Kelvin LaVerne highlights the astonishing breadth and depth of the duo’s practice, which ranges from avant-garde furniture to sculpture and painting.

“I opened my gallery Lobel Modern in 1998 and began showing works by the LaVernes almost immediately,” explains the gallery owner. “Your works are unique and also very enigmatic; People always asked me how they were made. And what the abstract patterns meant. “To be honest, I didn’t have a good answer to those questions at the time.”

(Image credit: Point Leaf Press)

(Image credit: Point Leaf Press)

(Image credit: Point Leaf Press)

To learn more about the duo, Lobel bought an old catalog from the 1970s and studied it. “The truth is that over time I found many unique pieces that were incredible: small tables, paintings and sculptures.” There were great differences in designs and manufacturing methods: most pieces were engraved, but there were also pieces , which were cast in bronze and hand soldered [welded] Works and engraved paintings,” Lobel recalls.

“That’s when I realized that these weren’t furniture designers, but artists. In fact, they called their works “functional sculptures,” and that gives you a good insight into their thinking.”

(Image credit: Point Leaf Press)

(Image credit: Pointed Leaf Press)

Many of LaVerne’s pieces, which often combine historical references from past civilizations and art historical motifs with modernist design principles, have been featured in Wallpaper* interiors and their value has skyrocketed in recent years. The new book focuses on the duo’s biography and presents a wealth of beautiful and never-before-seen images and commentary.

(Image credit: Point Leaf Press)

(Image credit: Point Leaf Press)

(Image credit: Point Leaf Press)

“My favorite work by Philip and Kelvin LaVerne is a pair of luminous large-scale sculptures called grace And harmony“says Lobel. “They are unique works and the LaVernes made them by hand soldering.” They wanted to add lights to the back and top because they felt the “halos” they created gave them a spiritual aura. They are masterpieces.’

Kelvin, now in his eighties, discusses the works in detail in the book, which represents a true collaboration with Lobel. The result is a comprehensive testament to the LaVernes’ importance as artist-designers who brought history, craftsmanship and innovation into conversation with functional design and art. In many conversations over a decade, Kelvin provided unprecedented insight into the methods he and his father used.

(Image credit: Point Leaf Press)

(Image credit: Point Leaf Press)

(Image credit: Point Leaf Press)

“In the book I delve deeply into the artists’ experiments and different production methods and the inspiration behind their works,” explains Lobel. “Every piece has a story, and many of the stories are extremely thought-provoking.” They were interested in creating pieces that seemed rooted in the past but had modern forms.