Nancy Agati
Philadelphia, PA
Nancy Agati
http://www.nancyagati.com
Drawing is an essential element to the work of Philadelphia artist, Nancy Agati. Through mark making, Agati seeks a sense of order to investigate geometry and reveal the essence of the natural state. The work examines visual relationships, transformations and repetitions found both in nature and man-made structures. Each work contains elements of alteration, assemblage and restructuring of the original source material.
The Pennsylvania Convention Center acquired three pieces from Agati’s Portico Series which consists of mixed media works on black paper, which emphasize intricately drawn lines and brush strokes from handmade, clay-based paint. These images, which have a lace-like, mandala quality, are patterns generated by the repetition of a single design element from a carved wooden doorway in Rome. Agati builds the work slowly mark-by-mark, form-by-form, following an adaptable set of rules. The arrangement of shape and pattern has become for the artist, a loose mathematical method for exploring a multitude of visual possibilities.
Fast Facts
Name: Nancy Agati
Website: www.nancyagati.com
Place of Birth: Syracuse, New York
Education:
B.F.A. Alfred University, School of Art and Design, Alfred, NY 1985
M.F.A. The University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA 2007
Significant or special training:
International Study, Camberwell College of Arts, London England 1984
Notable or memorable instructors or mentors:
Professor Jesse Shefrin – former print media instructor at Alfred University
Bonnie Collura – sculpture instructor and M.F.A. mentor at UArts
Astrid Bowlby – artist and fellowship mentor for Tending Space Fellowship
Particular field of study or class work:
Drawing & Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture
Major influences/admired artists:
David Hockney – paintings of water
Olafur Elliason – theme of perception, public participatory work
Anne Hamilton – exploration of materials – theme of perception
Kiki Smith – variety of media and drawing
Gerhard Richter
Robert Irwin
Giuseppe Penone
Favorite materials or media:
I enjoy working with natural materials such as birch bark, vines, mica and slate. Much of my work begins with drawing- I explore a variety of materials to make line, such as sewing with thread, making rubbings with wax, and carving and routing wood. I often develop a concept for the work that leads the way to the corresponding mixed media materials utilized.
School or university affiliation (when Convention Center acquired artwork):
I am an art instructor at The Haverford School
I am an active alumnus, exhibiting and attending lectures/events at The University of the Arts
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