Cheryl Levin was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA. She started drawing and painting at the age of twelve when her father brought home a How to Draw Book for children and asked which one of his three girls was interested. At the end of the book were instructions showing how to draw a woman carrying a basket of fruit on her head. This was to become Levin’s subject matter in 1984 when she began painting people, portraits and single-parent families after studying art Rome, Italy. During her time abroad, she was greatly influenced by ancient Etruscan and Roman art. When her own two children were young and her family life became more complicated she turned to abstract art as a way to conceptualize new realities. And after the death of her husband, artist blacksmith Robert Phillips, in 2012, she began to produce art as a eulogy. Using "metal cut-offs" salvaged from Phillips' studio, Levin moved his "remains around" to reorient herself through her grieving state and to organize chaos from death. She soon progressed to other formats, including installation pieces as an outgrowth from those works. Her work currently focuses on a search to develop a minimalist personal language to describe "the void" -(loss)- either individual or collective by beginning to incorporate the newfound knowledge that many family members were killed in the Holocaust.
Artist Biography
Cheryl Levin, a graduate of Tyler School of Art in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, and Rome, Italy has been a working artist for 30 years. As a founding member of the now defunct High Wire Artist Co-operative in Philadelphia, Levin was part of developing “First Fridays” in the city, and has shown in many group and two-person shows in the Philadelphia region. In addition to her fine art, Cheryl Levin is a professional house painter, both straight and decorative, working with architects, designers, and homeowners.
While partnered with her late husband, metal sculptor Robert Phillips, (February 24, 1962 -September 9, 2012), at their Phillips Metal Studio, Levin worked on public art projects for the City of Philadelphia as well as numerous other public and private commissions across the country. These include Metamorphosis - The Girard Crossing Public Arts Project located in Philadelphia at 30th and Girard Aves. on which Levin painted Phillips' monumental sculptures with glazes and specialty paints. Levin also created a set of mosaics, placed at the site, with community teens in conjunction with The Mural Arts agency of Philadelphia.
Levin presently works to facilitate the legacy of Robert Phillips and Phillips Metal by preserving a body of work which includes hundreds of working drawings, sculptures and metal works. She continues to maintain the building of Robert Phillips' former studio and it's currently the workshop of New York metalworkerAshley Stevenson of AWS Fabrication and Design and houses The Metal Shop Recording Studio as well.
She was represented for over 20 years by the Owen Patrick Gallery and Twist Gallery inPhiladelphia, PA, both having closed their doors in the past few years. Presently, Levin continues to produce casein paintings on paper and board, depicting abstract elements that relate psychologically to her life. Her themes, such as the Going Series, use line to delineate shapes that refer to compartments in her life, crossroads of thought and action, and life journeys.
After years of producing representational pictures dealing with themes of woman's identity and gender roles, Levin’s shift to abstraction was a direct result of the hardships she faced in her life and wanting a more free format for expression. Her new work reclaims her late husband’s discarded metal cut-offs as inspiration by incorporating them into the work and most recently has given voice to installation pieces. Levin is a recipient of the Ester and Adolf Foundation Arts Grant, New York City, NY and The Artist Fellowship Arts Grant, New York City, NY.
Education
2010 Fine Paints of Europe Certification Program, Woodstock, VT
2007, 2004, 2003 Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia, PA Printmaking
1987 The Finishing School, Floral Park, NY Faux-finishing
1984 Tyler School of Art, Elkins Park, PA BFA
1984, 1981 Tyler School of Art Abroad, Rome Campus, Rome, Italy
1980 Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
1979 Frudakis Academy, Philadelphia, PA
1979 PA Governors School for the Arts, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA
Awards & Honors
Grants
2012 Adolph & Ester Gottlieb Foundation Arts Grant, New York, Emergency Grant
Artist Fellowship Inc., New York, Emergency Grant
Public Art Collaborative Commissions/Phillips Metal
2010 Alternate – SEPTA PerCent for Art Competition, Philadelphia, PA
2009 Finalist, Public Art Installation at the Corner of 18th and Columbia, Washington Commission on Arts and Humanities, Washington, DC
Alternate – SEPTA PerCent for Art Competition, Philadelphia, PA
2008 Alternate – SEPTA PerCent for Art Competition, Philadelphia, PA
2006 Alternate – SEPTA PerCent for Art Competition, Philadelphia, PA
2004 - 2006 Metamorphosis - Girard Avenue Crossing Sculpture Project A series of metal sculptures and community mosaics. Sponsored by The City of Philadelphia Department of Recreation – Mural Arts Program, Fairmount Park and The Philadelphia Art Commission. Funded by a grants from The William Penn Foundation, SEPTA – The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, The Philadelphia Neighborhood Transformation Initiative and The Girard Street Coalition, Philadelphia, PA "African Legend".
2005 African Legend - Widner Branch Library, City of Philadelphia Percent For Arts Program Adjudicated through the The Philadelphia Arts Commission and the Philadelphia FreeLibrary, Philadelphia, PA.
Bibliography
Publications
2016 AOM Online gallery Newsletter, “Creativity and Writing Pedagogy: Linking Creative Writers, Researchers and Teachers", Equinox Press, Bob cover art
2010 “A Girl in Cap and Gown” Mommoth Press, Book cover artwork
2005 “African Style” and “The Spirit of African Design,” decorative finishes, publications by Clarkson & Potter Press
2004 “Recoil,” Icon Painting for Immigrant Films, San Francisco, CA
2001 Arts Festival Poster Art, Manayunk Summer Arts Festival, Philadelphia, PA
Collection
Private/Public Partial List
John Witherspoon, Actor Los Angeles,CA Oliver Lawton, Model, London, England Jill Moniz, Curator, Los Angeles , CA Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Tuttleman, Merion, PA Mr. and Mrs. Joseph & Carole Shanis, Philadelphia, PA Anna Bora, Wayne, PA Millan Enterprises, Gladwynne, PA The Handwork Studio, Narbeth, PA Dr. Mark Gloger, Potomac, MD Dr. Robert M. Weinrieb, Narbeth, PA Michael Daley, Philadelphia, PA REM Farms, Livingston Manor, NY Marquerite Rodgers LTD,Philadelphia, PA Royal Bank, Gladwyne, PA Striped Bass Restaurant, Philadelphia, PA Francine Kelly, Oak Bluffs, MA Scott Brown, Indianapolis, IN Carole Darst, Indianapolis, IN Janis Smith Gomez, South Orange, NJ Stevi Stoesz Kersh, Indianapolis, IN Dr. Bret Heerema, Las Vegas, NV
Professional Experience
1996 - Present Housepainter operating as Cheryl Levin Painting Working as interior housepainter offering straight and decorative painting for private residences and commercial spaces. Finishes include hand painted stencil patterns, marbleizing, wood graining and glazing. Provide work samples, estimates and manage crews. List of services includes all phases of interior painting and limited scope exterior work, prep, and painting.
1998 - 2012 Co-Owner, Phillips Metal Studios Produce functional, and decorative metal projects, created for commissions (public and private), exhibitions, and/or shows. Provide original design concepts and sketches, paint and protective finishes, and associated artistic elements (e.g. murals, mosaics, faux finishing). Also facilitate and implement programmatic, community-based and educational collaborations and partnerships. Assist in managing contracts, identifying suppliers, client interface, maintenance of project budgets and timelines, and proposal development. Facilitate workshops, apprenticeships and demonstrations.
1986 - 1996 Co-Owner & Principle Painter, Faux-Fax A full service painting company specializing in decorative surfaces such as woodgrain, marbleizing, stenciling, murals and specialty glazing for private and commercial applications. Provide samples and color consultation, estimates, manage contracts & supervise jobs. Clients include Temple University, The Hillier Group, DuPont, Merck & Bristol-Myers Squibb.
1984 - 1986 Set Painter, Sid Levy Displays Painting of Christmas display and installation in shopping malls, Philadelphia, PA
Community Collaborations, Outreach, and Teaching
2016 And Beneath Such Quiet: The Elegy in the Modern World Panel Participant, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
2007 Art as Voice Empowerment Program Bottle Tree Project, Elon University, Elon, NC A joint project sponsored by Elon University Art Department and The Western Alamance Middle School. Facilitator of workshop, which involved children painting poems and writings on glass bottles as part of art installation of the university’s campus. Collaboration with Robert Phillips.
Design Philadelphia Twist Gallery, Sponsored by The Design Center of Philadelphia Lecture
2006 - 2007 New Kensington Community Development Corporation Apprentice Program Facilitator of program for Phillips Metal. Work with apprentice on proper preparation of painting metal work.
2004 - 2006 Metamorphosis – Girard Crossing Sculpture & Mosaic Project Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, City of Philadelphia Department of Recreation Nine mosaic panels were designed, fabricated and installed with teens over a course of two summers at Phillips Metal Studio and The Mural Art Program Building.
2001 - 2003 Faux Finishing University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA Continuing Education Responsibilities include course curriculum and teaching of decorative glazing & marbleizing for walls and furniture.
2000 Faux Finishing Main Line Art Center, Wynnewood, PA Responsibilities include course curriculum and teaching of decorative glazing & marbleizing for walls and furniture.
1998 After-School Art Program Jewish Community Center, Wynnewood, PA An after-school program to facilitate non-stressful atmosphere for experimentation with clay and paint.
1994 - 1996 Mr. & Mrs. Richard Millan Bi-monthly home projects for two children during which time they attended 1st thru 3rd grades. Clay, cardboard constructions, drawings and painting.
1993 The Catapult Marionette Theater, Envy of the Soul, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Theatrical production. Set designer, puppeteer, and narrator.
1990 High Wire Gallery, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Elementary Arts Education Program A co-operative gallery that obtained grants as an organization to work on a project titled “Rap Meets Sculpture” involving students from The Sarah Lawrence Elementary School, Philadelphia, PA.
Exhibitions
Solo
2016 RO Home, Buffalo, NY
2004 Efroysom Gallery, Indianapolis, IN
1994 Owen Patrick Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
1989 Pink Rose, Philadelphia, PA
Group
2018 Art on Paper, Brooklyn Gallery, Brooklyn, NY Juror: Rebecca Lax
Main Line Members Show, Main Line Art Center, Ardmore, PA Juried Show
Art Takes Soho, SeeMe, Digital Show, 45 Lispenard St. #1w, New York, NY
CUE: Creating United Empowerment, On-line arts organization for social change, Philadelphia, PA
2017 Main Line Art Center Spring Gala, Ardmore, PA Juried Show
Vibrance, Linus Gallery, Digital Show, Los Angeles, CA
2015 Dreamscapes, Westports Arts Center, Westport, CT Curator: Alexandra Munroe, Ph.D
Samsung Curator Asian Art, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum of Art, New York, NY
2014 The Westtown School Gallery, West Chester, PA Two-person show
Diverted Destruction 7, The Lofts at Liz's, Los Angeles, CA Curator: Jill Moniz
Juried Show, Abington Art Center, Jenkintown, PA Juror: Gerard Brown
2013 Beginnings, Old City Jewish Arts Center, Philadelphia, PA Invitational group show
2012 The World of the Professional Artist 6, SPP Galleries, Montgomery County Guild of Professional Artists, Conshohocken, PA
A Tribute to Women, Old City Jewish Arts Center, Philadelphia, PA Invitational
2011 Art of the Line, Art in City Hall, Philadelphia, PA Juried Show
2007 - 2010 Twist Gallery, Philadelphia, PA On-going representation
Philadelphia Furniture and Furnishing Show, Philadelphia, PA Juried
Phillips Metal Sculpture & Painting Sale, Phillips Metal Studio, Philadelphia, PA
Kew Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Bike Race & Art Sale, Philadelphia, PA
Schackamaxon Court Apartments, Philadelphia, PA, Group Show
Pico Youth & Family Center Art Auction, Santa Monica, CA
The Philadelphia Youth Orchestra Art Auction, Philadelphia, PA
2005 - 2007 Owen Patrick Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, On-going representation
