Mario Kon
Mario at work
Artist Statement
The essential mystery of wood, the knots and weathered grain of its history, are the inspiration for my work. My approach to the material is aggressive as well as restorative. I carve, cut, and chip the layers as a means to reveal the secrets within. Dividing the space using lines and curves that, in time, become shapes, I feel an affinity for the visual tension that transforms space geometrically.
As a sculpting medium, I approach this process of deconstruction with an organic and spontaneous energy. My work relates to drawing, painting, collage, and sculpture, and I use these as tools for navigation during the process of creation.
Artist Bio
Mario Kon has been a Sculptor for over forty years. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Buenos Aires. He immigrated to the United States in 1973 and graduated from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, MA in 1979. He is the recipient of two Traveling Fellowships from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts. In addition to solo Museum shows, his work is included in many private and corporate collections.
Aztec 4, cut, carved, painted wood, 20x48 inches
Letting Go Series 1 2 3, cut, carved, burned, painted wood, 18x57 inches each
Maguey 4, cut, carved, burned, painted wood, 20x48 inches
Outer Limits 3, cut carved, bent, painted wood, 38x94x6 inches
South of Nexos, cut, carved wood, 48x96 inches
The Red Piece, cut, carved, bent, painted wood, 48x96x6
Solo Exhibitions
2005 Locco Ritoro Gallery, Boston, MA
2000 Neilsen Gallery, Boston, MA
2000 Biogen, Hamilton, MA
1997 Neilsen Gallery, Boston, MA
1995 Neilsen Gallery, Boston, MA
1994 Neilsen Gallery, Boston, MA
1988 Neilsen Gallery, Boston, MA
1985 Neilsen Gallery, Boston, MA
1982 Cayman Gallery, New York, NY
1980 William Underwood Company, Westwood, MA
1979 Cutler/ Stavaridis Gallery, Boston, MA
1978 Flag Gallery, Boston, MA
Group Exhibitions
2010 Galeria #6, Mineral De Pozos, Guanajuato, Mexico
2009 Duane Youts Gallery, San Miguel De Allende, Mexico
2007 Brickbottom Art Gallery, Somerville, MA, Fabric As Medium
2007 Danforth Museum, Framingham, MA, Members Show
2007 Thomas Moser Gallery, Boston, MA, Into The Woods
2006 Galeria Casa Del Cielo, Mineral De Pozos, Guanajuato, Mexico
2006 Pergola Gallery, San Miguel De Allende, Mexico
2004 Nielson Gallery, Boston, MA
2004 Cooley Gallery, Old Lyme, Connecticut
2002 The 2002 DeCordova Annual Exhibition, Lincoln, MA
1996-2001 Fort Point Channel Open Studios, Boston, MA
1999 35th Anniversary Show, Neilsen Gallery, Boston, MA
1999 The Landscape Show, Neilsen Gallery, Boston, MA
1998 4 Sculptors, Neilsen Gallery, Boston, MA
1995 Fellowship Exhibition, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
1991 On-going Group Exhibitions, Neilsen Gallery, Boston, MA
1991 10 Years of Boston Art, Neilsen Gallery, Boston, MA
1990-91 Works by South American Artists, Bank of Boston, Boston, MA
1990 The Unique Print: 70’s into 90’s, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
1990 Summertime, Neilsen Gallery, Boston, MA
1990 CommonGround, The Hurst Gallery, Camridge, MA
Awards
1995 Traveling Fellowship, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Ma
1986 Charlestown Shipyards, Massachusetts Council for the Arts
1979 Traveling Fellowship, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
Commissions
2009 Newbridge On the Charles, Sanctuary Ark Doors
2005 Ritz Carlton Towers, Boston, MA
2004 Private Collection, Boston, MA
2002 Private Collection, Boston, MA
1988 Babson College, Wellesley, MA
1981 Constitution Quarters, Charlestown Navy Yard, Charlestown, MA
1981 Marina Quarters, Charlestown Navy Yard, Charlestown, MA
1980 Holyoke Community College, Holyoke, MA
1980 Private Collection, Boston, MA
1979 Private Collection, Cambridge, MA
1975 William Underwood Company, Westwood, MA
Publications
“The 2002 DeCordova Annual Exhibition,” Francine Weiss, 2002 Catalog of Exhibitions
“New American Painting, Volume 26,” Terry Sultan, Curator Contemporary Art, Corcoran Gallery of Art, 2000