elliott arkin

After graduating from Amherst College in 1983, Elliott Arkin got his start in New York as window designer for Tiffany’s and a special-effectsmodel-builder for films and commercials. These experiences continue to inform his work, which operates in the spaces between high... [more]

After graduating from Amherst College in 1983, Elliott Arkin got his start in New York as window designer for Tiffany’s and a special-effectsmodel-builder for films and commercials. These experiences continue to inform his work, which operates in the spaces between high art and popular culture. His sculptures have been seen in galleries and museums around the world, and they are currently in several permanent collections, including the Louvre Museum’s Musee des Arts Decoratifs and the New York Public Library. Arkin’s solo exhibitions have garnered reviews in publications such as the Village Voice and Art in America, and he has created work for numerous fundraising projects, including the New York City Ballet’s anti-AIDS campaign; Muhammad Ali’s World Healing Project; The Nelson Mandela Foundation Project for Human Rights and Amnesty International. In keeping with his refusal to adhere to traditional hierarchies, Arkin has also spearheaded several art-entrepreneurial projects while his sculptures made as cartoonist-in-residence for artnet.com have gained a large following and are collected by prominent curators, critics and artists, including Robert Storr and Maurizio Cattelan. He is currently working on “Mister Artsee,” an ice-cream truck turned mobile art laboratory. Education B.A., Amherst College (1983) Barbieri Center, Rome Employment Blue Sky Studios (2005): Senior character designer and sculptor for upcoming animation movie, "Horton Hears a Who," scheduled to release in 2008. Sports Illustrated (2002-2004): Created "Athlete of the Year" awards for national televised show. Nelson Mandela SOS (2002): Senior Design Director for EPOP productions world-wide partnership with Nelson Mandela. Designed universal human rights symbol representing Mandela’s initiative to end the AIDS crisis. Muhammad Ali (2001): Selected to take life cast of Muhammad Ali. Andy Warhol Foundation (2000): Designed the Andy Warhol Jewelry Collection. Muhammad Ali World Healing Project (1996): Director in charge of coordinating the visual arts community’s response to Muhammad Ali’s efforts for world healing and tolerance. Designed awards and symbols as well as developed cultural events for the World Healing Project. Public Presentations or Publications of Work (exhibitions, festivals, books, journals, etc.) 2007: solo exhibition "In The Memory Of Elliott Arkin Akus Gallery, Eastern Connecticut State University 2006: Special Exhibition, Artnet.com, The Armory Show, NY 2005: Group Show, Kathleen Cullen Fine Arts, New York, NY 2004: "The Slide Show" (solo), Artek Contemporaries, New York, NY; "Freud: The Creative Analysis of Analysis," University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 2003: Group Exhibition, Gale Gates et. al., Brooklyn, NY 2002: "Scent," Proposition Gallery, New York, NY 2001: "18 Alumni Artists," Mead Art Museum, Amherst, MA 2000: "Le Cadre Grand" (solo), Gallery 557 West 24th St, New York, NY 1999: The Sculpture Center, New York, NY; "NYCB 50th Anniversary," New York Historical Society, New York, NY 1992: "The Purloined Image," Flint Institute of the Arts, Flint, MI Awards and Honors Commissioned by Congressional medal of Honor Society to design and create the Civilian "Above and Beyond" Congressional Medal of Honor (2008). Acquisition of a sculpture by the Louvre Museum’s Musee des Arts Decoratifs (1998). Commissioned by Tiffany & Co. to design and create their Christmas Windows for the flagship store at 57th and 5th Avenue (1995) – the first person to receive this commission following the retirement of legendary designer Gene Moore. Selected Bibliography Cary Levine, “Elliott Arkin at Artek,” Art in America, February, 2005, pp. 130-131. Kim Levin, “Voice Choice,” The Village Voice, April 28 - May 4, 2004, p. 89. Benjamin Genocchio, “Freud: A Creative Analysis of Analysis,” The New York Times, CT Weekly, Section 14CN, Sunday, April 4, 2004, p. 6. Rita Hatton, John A. Walker, “Supercollector: A Critique of Charles Saatchi-second edition,” Institute of Artology, London, 2003, pp. 180-181. Louvre Museums Publication: A L’Inventaire: Acquisitions Du Musee des Arts Decoratifs, 1995-1999; Union des Arts Decoratifs, 2000, p. 94. “Frames of Reference,” Chicago Art Review, Spring 1997, front cover. [show less]