Ilan Averbuch

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ILAN AVERBUCH was born in Tel Aviv, Israel and now lives and works in New York City. He is a sculptor of international acclaim, His cultural heritage and experiences are well incorporated into his creative thinking through historical legends, ancient art from his birth place Israel and the affect of his new life in America “The path to art, isolation and impatience as a creative force, how the landscape around you creates your artistic palette” Averbuch said. The process of his work is by doing a drawing of an idea, then building small sculptures by using old and new materials, such as stone, steel, concrete, wood, copper, lead, glass and aluminum and propose for commissioned monumental sculptures.

The Lily Pond series revolves around a collection of sculptures, curious, craftsman-like feats atop circular granite slabs that appear to float, like massive lily pads, (and in reality are supported by clusters of metal legs). Made out of stone and weathered, rust-colored steel, the pieces have an ancient, tawny feel. The objects and structures themselves—simple tools and clever architectures—remain nonspecifically old and of mysterious, or mythological, origin—Etruscan or Atlantean? As with archaeology, Averbuch’s findings seek to connect us with a past; two works, a barrel-shaped sculpture and its drawn plans, refer to a cuneiform-inscribed clay cylinder from 539 BCE Mesopotamia that is the first known declaration of human rights. They also speak to potential fates: The Ark, After Paris, a hut in a boat on precarious pylons, evokes the consequences of leaving recent climate accords (and also conjures up the shallow Trojan prince who provoked war, destruction and ultimately his own demise), bringing to mind ancient floods and not-so-distant futures.

Education
MFA: 1983-85 Hunter College, New York, NY
BFA: 1979-81 School of Visual Arts, New York, NY
1977-78 Wimbledon School of Art, London, England

Professional Career
1994 -2000 art instructor at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Guest lecturer with several arts institutions in the U.S., Canada, Israel, India and Europe.

Selected Public Art Commissions
2021 – The Sun on the Edge, commissioned by the city of St. Petersburg, FL
2020 – Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX; Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, Nyack NY; Ilan Gal-on Plaza, Sapir Tower, Ramat Gan, Israel
2019 – Holzhausen Estate, Nieheim, Germany
2018 – Central Washington University, WA
2016 – Marina Heights, Tempe, AZ; Florida International University, Miami, FL
2015 – Discovery Campus, Tempe, AZ; Downtown Remote Operations Facility, Raleigh, NC
2014 – H.H. Ellis Technical High School, Danielson, CT; Topor Sculpture Garden, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.

Collections
Ilan Averbuch’s sculptures and artworks are located in public spaces and collections in the U.S., Canada, Israel, India and Europe. As a sculptor of large-scale outdoor art, he has worked on many public projects and was published in 2011 by Charta Art Publications.

Selected One-Person Exhibitions
Nancy Hoffman Gallery, NY: 2017, 2014, 2011, 2008, 2005, 2002, 1999, 1997, 1995, 1993, 1991, 1989.
Omer Open Museum, Israel: 2013-2015.
Gal-On Gallery, Tel-Aviv, Israel: 2012.
Olga Korper Gallery, Toronto, Canada: 2009, 2005, 1998, 1994, 1991, 1988.    
Katonah Museum of Art, Katonah, New York:  2005.
Galerie Sander, Darmstadt, Germany: 2001.

Selected Group Exhibitions
2022 – “Crossing Borders: Artists from the Middle East & the Americas” Arts Warehouse, Delray Beach, FL
2021 – “Crossing Borders: Artists from the Middle East & America” Scope Art Miami Fair, FL
2021 – “Crossing Borders: Artists from the Middle East & Latin America” Kendall Art Center, in collaboration with Khawam Gallery, Miami, FL
2019 – “Circles,” Nancy Hoffmann Gallery at EXPO Chicago, Chicago, IL
2018  – “Sculptors and Their Drawings,” Nancy Hoffman Gallery, New York, NY
2017 – “Dialogues, Art & Architecture,” Nancy Hoffman Gallery, New York, NY
2011 – “Nimrod’s Descendants,” The Jerusalem Artists’ House, Jerusalem, Israel
2004 – “Museum Opening Exhibition,” Nevada Art Museum, Reno, NV; “Indivisible Cities,” Bill Maynes Gallery, New York
2003 – “Shivat Zion, Beyond the Principal of Place,” Zman Leomanut, Israel; “Givataim Connection,” Israel; “Genetic Expressions: Art After DNA,” Heckscher Museum of Art, New York; Grand Opening of the New Nevada Museum of Art, Reno, Nevada.

Selected Awards and Grants
2012 – Americans for the Arts/PAN (Public Art Network) Year in Review recognition
2005 – Americans for the Arts/PAN (Public Art Network) Year in Review recognition
2001 – Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant
1991 – Mid-Atlantic Art Award, NEA regional fellowship
1885-86 – D.A.A.D. Award, Berlin, Germany.

Selected Guest Lecturer and Panel Appointments
2018 Studio21, Kolkata, India
2017 Central Washington University, Ellensburg
2011 Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore

Selected Bibliography and Catalogues (*indicates solo catalogues)
Destination Art, Phaidon Press, London. 2018.
*Ilan Averbuch: Reflections. Omer Open Museum, Israel. Essays: “Resonant Reflections, the Art of Ilan Averbuch,” Rachel Rosenfield Lafo; “Between Heaven and Earth, On Ilan Averbuch’s Works,” Ruthi Ofek. 2013.
*Ilan Averbuch: Public Projects.  Ilan Averbuch with an essay by Mark D. Cohen. New York: Charta Books Ltd, 2010.
*Ilan Averbuch: Das Gelobte Land.  Kunstverein Hürth, Hürth, Germany. 2000.
*Ilan Averbuch, Sculpture and Drawing. The Open Museum, Tefen, Israel. Essays: “Ilan Averbuch: The Intimate Monument,” Carter Ratcliff; “Upon Thy Places and Times,” Dr. Gideon Ofrat. 1997.