Dan Levenson

Dan Levenson anchors his work in a cohesive conceptual framework that merges historical art traditions with elements of fantasy. His work revolves around a fully imagined narrative: a community of Swiss artists existing in a generic, modern-past setting. In Levenson’s vision, the primary protagonists are not the artists themselves—whose identities remain deliberately obscure—but the institutions surrounding them. These include an art school, an art gallery, a manufacturer of art and office supplies, a publishing house, a philanthropic tobacco company, and a quasi-governmental body, the Swiss Standards Organization. Levenson assumes all roles within this universe: painter, sculptor, installation artist, and designer. This pluralistic approach reflects his aesthetic philosophy, blending multiple forms and media into a single, irreverent narrative. He eschews notions of authenticity, presenting a fragmented story through diverse objects and works that serve as vestiges of a fictional culture. While the project spans installations, sculptures, and performative elements, the paintings remain the central focus, anchoring the conceptual and material exploration of this inventive, multilayered world. ...