Marcus Levine with one of his figurative nail art works. Image: Yorkshire Post
Artist and sculptor, Marcus Levine, was born in Leeds, but now lives in Nab Wood Shipley, and his studio is located in Keighley. He is noted as the creator of figurative nail sculptures.
Marcus attended Fulneck Boys School, Pudsey, then completed an art foundation course at Jacob Kramer College in Leeds (now Leeds Arts University), where he studied alongside Damien Hurst. Marcus then studied at Falmouth University, where he gained a BA honours degree.
His first job was as a graphic designer for HTV before joining the family printing business in Leeds, although he continued to work in parallel as a fine artist throughout his working life.
Then in 2004, whilst dividing his time between living in Bingley and Budapest, he created his first nail sculpture and made the decision to become a full time freelance artist – his original career ambition.
Image: Marcus Levine (see website below)
Marcus has exhibited work locally and internationally, including in London, New York, Miami, LA, Budapest, Munich, Greece. In Bradford, he exhibited his ‘Brad Nail Study’ at Cartwright Hall. This was made from thousands of nails to stimulate the senses of touch, smell and sound. This accompanied his nail sculpture, ‘Hung Out To Dry’, made with 28,000 stainless steel nails supported between two 5m high nails, which is displayed in Lister Park, Bradford. Marcus’s Oak Sensory Sculpture is also on display at the University of Bradford.
Image: Marcus Levine (see website below)
‘Hockney a Portrait in Nail’ was created from 250 kg of nails measuring 4.8 x 3.6m; Marcus spent 15 months in its completion, Until recently it was hung outside in Little Germany Bradford and is currently in Marcus’s studio receiving restoration before being re-installed to a new indoor location.
Image: Marcus Levine (see website below)
Artists website at http://www.levine-art.co.uk/