Is it the back of a woman’s dress? I ponder while observing a vivid cherry-red painting by Domenico Gnoli at Lévy Gorvy Dayan.
As I step back from the over-five-foot square canvas, I notice it portrays a tie knot, zoomed in and abstracted to the point of near ambiguity. Up close, the rhythmic and precisely detailed lines of the ribbed fabric capture my attention. Under the skilled hand of the late Italian artist, this ordinary object transforms into a sculptural form, reminiscent of works by Park Seo-Bo, where pencil lines are etched into wet surfaces, creating a textured, three-dimensional effect.
This meticulous trompe-l’oeil effect is just one of the many techniques Gnoli masterfully employed, as showcased in the survey at Lévy Gorvy Dayan—the most extensive American exhibition of Gnoli’s work since 1969. Throughout his brief life—Gnoli passed away from cancer at 36 in 1970—the Roman-born artist gained significant acclaim. He excelled as an illustrator for children’s books and magazines like Sports Illustrated and Life, a designer for costumes and sets, and ultimately, as a painter with a unique and timeless style that evokes Surrealism, Pop art, and Arte Povera. In “The Adventure of Domenico Gnoli,” Lévy Gorvy Dayan presents 17 standout paintings, along with rarely viewed drawings, etchings, notebooks, letters, and other memorabilia from the peak of Gnoli’s career, between 1965 and 1969. With only 160 to 170 mature paintings by Gnoli in existence, mostly in private collections, assembling this exhibition was a challenging task.
“Gnoli’s collectors are often extremely hesitant to part with his works, even temporarily,” says Amalia Dayan, who co-manages the gallery with Dominique Lévy and Brett Gorvy, during an interview with Vogue. Many of his artworks remain with their original owners or have been inherited by their families. “There is a devoted following for Gnoli,” Dayan continues. “Once immersed in his intricate world, it becomes an all-consuming passion.” Dayan herself became captivated over a decade ago, showcasing Gnoli exhibitions in 2012 and 2018 at her previous gallery, Luxembourg & Dayan (now Luxembourg + Co.).
The latest exhibition at Lévy Gorvy Dayan was made possible through extensive collaboration with Gnoli’s estate. This includes the Domenico Gnoli Archives in Majorca, managed by the artist’s widow, Yannick Vu, and her husband, Ben Jakober, who was also a fellow artist and close friend of Gnoli. Additionally, the Archivio Domenico Gnoli in Rome, led by the artist’s sister, Mimì Gnoli, and the Livia Polidoro-Gnoli Archive, played a significant role in this effort.
