Project Description

For the past twenty-five years, Woods Davy has worked with natural elements, usually incorporating various types of stone in fluid balancing acts that reflect the artist’s “Western Zen” sensibility. He might be thought of as among the first “green” Postmodern artists. In fact, he comes from a long tradition of post 60s artists, who either directly or just by their practical sensibility, engage Eastern or Zen notions of oneness with nature, organic systems of change as engines of art composition, and non-disruptive respect for natural material in unaltered states. These works manage this, as they illuminate the poetry of nature. As Holly Meyers observed in a previous exhibition, there is “something thrilling about a work that appears to defy its own natural properties,” while at the same time one can appreciate the work’s “meditative reverence.”

EDUCATION
1975
MFA, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, IL
1972
BFA, Morehead Scholar University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, St. Albans School, Washington, DC
 
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2017
Bentley Gallery, Phoenix AZ
2016
Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
2014
Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
2013
Galerie Marie Laure de L’Ecotais, Paris, France
2012
Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
2012
Bentley Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
2011
Galerie Marie Laure de L’Ecotais, Paris, France
2011
Craig Krull Gallery,Santa Monica, CA
2010
Craig Krull Gallery,Santa Monica, CA
2010
Galerie Marie Laure de L’Ecotais, Paris, France
2009
Joel Cooner Gallery, Dallas, TX
2008
OK Harris Works of Art, New York, NY
2008
Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
2008
Gebert Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM
2007
Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
2006
Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
2006
Chiaroscuro Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2005
Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
2005
Bentley Gallery, Phoenix, AZ
2004
Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
1004
Allene Lapides Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2003
Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
2002
Skidmore Contemporary Art, Malibu, CA
2001
Imago Galleries, Palm Desert, CA
2000
Skidmore Contemporary Art, Malibu, CA
2000
Ochi Fine Art, Ketchum, ID
1998
Jan Abrams Fine Art, NY
1998
Gallery at 777, Los Angeles, CA
1996
Jan Abrams Fine Art, NY
1995
Kantor Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1994
Thomas Babeor Gallery, La Jolla, CA
1993
Gallery DeRoche, San Francisco, CA
1992
Works Gallery, Costa Mesa, CA
1992
Franz Bader Gallery, Washington, DC
1991
Works Gallery, Costa Mesa, CA
1990
Works Gallery, Long Beach, CA
1989
Thomas Babeor Gallery, La Jolla, CA
1988
Valerie Miller Fine Art, Palm Springs, CA
1987
Tortue Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
1986
McIntosh/Drysdale Gallery, Washington, DC
1986
Desert Plaza, Palm Springs, CA
1985
Tortue Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
1985
McIntosh/Drysdale Gallery, Houston, TX
1985
Thomas Babeor Gallery, La Jolla, CA
1984
McIntosh/Drysdale Gallery, Houston, TX
1984
New Public Art, Otis Parsons, Los Angeles, CA
1983
Hunsaker/Schlesinger & Associates, Los Angeles, CA
1982
Los Angeles City Hall, Spring Street Court & Rotunda
1981
Neil G. Ovsey Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1980
Security Pacific Bank, Los Angeles, CA
1980
William Sawyer Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1980
Long Beach City College, Long Beach, CA
1979
Union Station, Los Angeles, CA
 
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2016
Santa Monica Public Arts Exhibition, CA
2015
Bentley Galley, Phoenix, AZ
2013
Imago Galleries, Palm Desert, CA
2012
Sanne Nies Salon, Eindhoven, Netherlands
2011
Galerie Ferro, Cannes, France
2011
Claes Gallery, Brussels, Belgium
2011
Bentley Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
2011
Gail Severn Gallery, Ketchum, ID
2010
Stremmel Gallery, Reno, NV
2010
Art Affair Cannes ’10, Cannes, France
2009
Alain Naoum Gallery, Brussels, Belgium
2008
David Floria Gallery, Aspen, CO
2008
Imago Galleries, Palm Desert, CA
2008
Gail Severn Gallery, Ketchum, ID
2007
Stremmel Gallery, Reno, NV
2007
Gail Severn Gallery, Ketchum, ID
2006
Imago Galleries, Palm Desert, CA
2006
Bentley Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
2005
Bentley Projects, Phoenix, AZ
2005
Allene Lapides Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2004
Bentley Projects, Phoenix, AZ
2004
Bentley Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
2004
Imago Galleries, Palm Desert, CA
2004
Allene Lapides Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2004
Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
2003
Frederic R. Weisman Museum of Art, Malibu, CA
2003
Boise Art Museum, Boise, ID
2003
Allene Lapides Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2003
Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
2003
Runyon Fine Art, Dallas, TX
2003
Skidmore Contemporary Art, Malibu, CA
2002
Imago Galleries, Palm Desert, CA
2002
Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
2002
Museum of Outdoor Sculpture, Denver, CO
2001
Imago Galleries, Palm Desert, CA
1999
Imago Galleries, Palm Desert, CA
1998
Outdoor Sculpture Invitational, Barat College, Evanston,IL
1998
Wood Street Gallery, Chicago, IL
1998
Skidmore Contemporary Art, Malibu, CA
1998
Pier Walk ‘98, Sculpture Invitational, Chicago, IL
1997
Pier Walk ‘97, Sculpture Invitational, Chicago, IL
1997
Jan Abrams Fine Art, New York, NY
1996
Pier Walk ‘96, Sculpture Invitational, Chicago, IL
1996
Koplin Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
1996
LACMA, Los Angeles, CA
1995
Jan Abrams Fine Art, New York, NY
1995
Joy Tash Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
1994
MOCA, Los Angeles, CA
1994
Sculpture Space, Washington, DC
1994
Jan Abrams Fine Art, Los Angeles, CA
1993
Thomas Babeor Gallery, La Jolla, CA
1993
Palm Springs Desert Museum, Palm Springs, CA
1992
Marcia Simon Weisman Gallery, Cedars-Sinai Hospital, Los Angeles, CA
1991
Fleck/Ellman Gallery, Aspen, CO
1991
Dennis Vaughn Gallery, Aspen, CO
1991
Natural Forces, LAX, Los Angeles, CA
1990
MOCA, Los Angeles, CA
1990
McIntosh/Drysdale Gallery, Washington, DC
1989
Works Gallery, Long Beach, CA
1989
Art in the Parks, Beverly Hills, CA
1988
Art in Public Spaces, National Traveling Exhibition
1988
Art in Public Buildings, California Arts Council,
1988
California State University, Fresno, CA
1987
Los Angeles Public Art, Fine Arts Building, CA
1987
Tortue Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
1986
McIntosh/Drysdale Gallery, Washington, DC
1986
Sybil Larney Gallery, Chicago
1985
Monuments To, University Art Museum, CA
1985
California State University, Long Beach, CA
1984
Otis Parsons Institute of the Arts, Los Angeles, CA
1984
Cirrus Art Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1984
Roy Boyd Gallery, Chicago, IL and Los Angeles, CA
1984
Koplin Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1983
Urban Sculpture, Security Pacific Bank, Los Angeles, CA
1983
The Nancy Yewell Collection, Baxter Art Gallery, Pasadena, CA
1983
Palm Springs Desert Museum, Palm Springs, CA
1983
Thomas Babeor Gallery, La Jolla, CA
1982
Downtown Los Angeles, WAAM/The Art Museum
1982
Association, traveling Exhibition: Madison Art Center, WI; UC, San Diego, CA; Art Museum of South Texas, Corpus Cristi; San Francisco Museum of Art, CA; DeCordova Museum, Lincoln, MA; Denver Art Museum, CO
1982
Forgotten Dimension…A Survey of Small Sculpture in California Now, Fresno Arts Center, Fresno, CA,Traveling Exhibition
1982
Architectural References, Gensler & Associates, LA, CA
1982
Baxter Art Gallery, CALTECH, Pasadena, CA
1981
Newport Harbor Art Museum, Newport Beach, CA
1981
Community Redevelopment Agency, Los Angeles, CA
1981
Neil G. Ovsey Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1980
Kirk de Gooyer Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1980
Sculpture ‘80, Maryland Art Institute, Baltimore, MD
1980
Six Los Angeles Sculptors, Federal Reserve Board, D.C.
1980
Federal Reserve Bank, Los Angeles, CA
1980
Protech/McIntosh Gallery, Washington, DC
1980
Mittendorf Lane Gallery, Washington, DC
1980
Downtown Los Angeles in Santa Barbara, Santa
1980
Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara, CA
1980
Stage One Gallery, Orange, CA
1980
Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions (LACE), CA
1979
LAX 814, Los Angeles, CA
1979
Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions (LACE), CA
1979
Los Angeles Institute of Contemporary Art (LAICA), CA
1978
Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions (LACE), CA
1977
Introductions ‘77, William Sawyer Gallery, San Francisco
1977
Art in Public Places, City Hall, Los Angeles, CA
1976
Mid-Continental Plaza, Chicago, IL
1976
Del Mar College, Corpus Cristi, TX
1976
Ball State University, Muncie, IN
1975
First Federal Savings and Loan, Chicago, IL
1975
Sculpture 1975, Traveling Exhibition
1974
Evansville Museum of Arts and Sciences, Evansville, IN
1972
North Carolina State Museum, Raleigh, NC
 
SELECTED PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA
Palm Springs Desert Museum, Palm Springs, CA
Grunwald Art Center, Armand Hammer Mus. of Art, Los Angeles, CA
San Diego Museum of Art, La Jolla, CA
Orange County Museum of Art, Newport Beach, CA
American Film Institute, Los Angeles
ARCO, Los Angeles, Ca
Boise Art Museum, Boise, ID
Cypress College, Cypress, CA California
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, CA
Frederic R. Weisman Museum of Art, Pepperdine Univ., Malibu, CA
Hillstone Inc.: Phoenix, AZ, New York, NY, San Francisco, CA, Los Angeles, CA, Dallas, TX, Winter Park, FL
Laguna Museum of Art, Laguna Beach, CA
Long Beach Museum of Art, Long Beach, CA
State of California
Security Pacific National Bank, Los Angeles
State University, Fullerton, CA
United Bank, Houston, TX
University Art Museum, CSU, Long Beach, CA
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, West Hollywood, CA
 
SELECTED LARGE SCALE COMMISSIONS
2013
Cedars-Sinai Hospital, Los Angeles, CA Morehead-Cain Foundation, UNC, Chapel Hill, NC
2012
University Hospital, Case Western Reserve, Cleveland, OH
2010
Segovia of Palm Desert, Palm Desert, CA
2010
Oak Creek Plaza, Agoura Hills, CA
2009
Baylor University, Waco, TX
2009
Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe, CA
2008
Hyatt Grand Champions, Indian Wells, CA
2007
Tower Medical, Beverly Hills, CA
2006
Four Seasons Hotel, St. Louis, MO
2000
Media Studios, Burbank, CA
2000
City of Hope, Duarte, CA
1998-99
Lewis Business Center, Prudential Real Estate Van Nuys, CA
1997
Cedars-Sinai Hospital, Los Angeles, CA
1996
California State University, Long Beach, CA
1995
Sterling Research Group, Kodak Corp., Philadelphia, PA
1994
Xerox Corporation, New York, NY
1993
Neutrogena Corporation, Los Angeles, CA
1991
Carnation Corporation, Glendale, CA
1990
Sookie Goldman Nature Center, The William O. Douglas Outdoor Classroom, Bev. Hills, CA
1993
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
1987
IBM, Federal Facility, Gaithersberg, MD
1987
Cranston Securities, Washington, DC and Los Angeles, CA
1986
Edward J. DeBartolo Corp., Palm Springs, CA
1986
California Arts Council, DMV, Arleta, CA
1986
Bel Age Hotel, L.A., CA
1986
Highland Resources, Inc., East Camden, AK
1985
Metropolitan Life Insurance, Inc., Los Angeles, CA
1985
Siena Park, Boulder, CO
1985
L’Ermitage Hotel, Beverly Hills, CA
1985
Brushy Creek National Bank, Round Rock, TX
1985
Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, PA
1985
Harvard School, Woodland Hills, CA
1984
Otis Art Institute, McArthur Park Public Arts Prog., L.A. CA
1984
Highland Joint Venture, Austin, TX
1984
Highland Resources, Inc., Houston, TX
1981
Little Tokyo Towers, Los Angeles, CA
 
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
2015
Colby, Ron. A Man with Stones, documentary film Younger, Sandra. Sourcerer’s Stones, Carolina magazine, March-April
2014
Cedars-Sinai Offers a Permanent Art Walk a Stone’s Throw from Weho, wehooville.com
2010
Fine Art TV, Art Affair Cannes
2010
Aubert, Marie C. Woods Davy nauturellement , La Gazette, N.9 DU 5 MAR
2009
THE Magazine for the Arts, DFW, TX
2009
Pasatiempo Magazine of Arts, Santa Fe, NM
2008
THE Magazine for the Arts, Los Angeles, CA
2007
AZ, Woods Davy, Cantamar, Art & Culture: Bentley Projects
2007
Webb, Michael. Venice, CA, Art + Architecture in a Maverick Community
2004
Nys Dambrot, Shana. Evidence of Formation
2003
Riquelme, Kathleen. The Studio Book
2003
Myers, Holly. Gallery reviews – Granite and stones that defy gravity, Los Angeles Times
2003
Zimmerer, Kathy. Woods Davy: Las Piedras, The American Sculptor
2001
Rothman, Tibby. Woods Davy, the Alchemist, Venice Paper
2000
Zimmerer, Kathy. Feature art review, Art Scene
1999
Artist and Works. Los Angeles Times
1998
Gibson, Sheila J. Rock Star, The Robb Report
1997
Gordon Davidson Residence, Architectural Digest
1994
Saville, Jonathan. African Genesis, from a Sculptor’s Point of View, San Diego Reader
1993
Heeger, Susan. Desert Dreamer, (Greenberg residence), Garden Design
1990
Pittel, Christine. LA High Life, (Schlesinger residence), Elle Decor
1990
Berland, Dinah. Spirit of Southland in Two Sculptor’s Works, Long Beach Press Telegram
1990
Clark, Orville O.,Art Review, Southern California House & Garden
1990
Michaels, Donna. Stone Sculpture, Art Talk, Jan
1989
Pincus, Robert. Art Review, San Diego Union-Tribune
1988
Glenn, Constance. Home is Where the Art Is, Angeles
1988
Latempa, Susan. A Walk on the Art Side, L.A. Style
1987
McKenna, Kristine. Art Review, Los Angeles Times
1986
Lewis, Jo Ann. Woods Davy’s Sculptures, Washington Post
1986
Sculpture Garden – Woods Davy, DeBartolo Corp.
1984
Filler, Martin. Quinn Essential, House & Garden
1985
Muchnic, Suzanne. Art Review, Los Angeles Times
1985
Brumberg, Dan, Making Art Work, Club Ties
1985
Sinasky, Debra. Art Abounds in Little Tokyo, The Contemporary (MOCA)
1985
Everingham, Carol J. Critic’s Choice, TheHouston Post
1985
Winckler, Suzanne. Elysian Fields, Houston Home and Garden
1985
Flanagan, Barbara. The Battle of MacArthur Park, Artnews
1985
Talk of Texas – Sculpture. Woods Davy and Jesus Moroles, Ultra
1984
Wilson, William. MacArthur Park to Get Public Arts Program, Los Angeles Times
1984
Pincus, Robert. Woods Davy – New Public Art
1984
Nodal, Al. MacArthur Park Public Places Program
1984
Designers West, Los Angeles: Woods Davy Sculpture Installed at Otis Parsons
1983
Wilson, William. Art Review, Los Angeles Times
1983
Pincus, Robert. The Galleries, Los Angeles Times
1983
State of the Arts, Los Angeles Times
1983
Clark, Orville O. Woods Davy at Hunsaker/Schlesinger, Images & Issues
1982
Wilson, William. Sculptor Takes Government Seat, Los Angeles Times
1982
Taylor, Ruth Ashton. Interview, CBS
1982
KPFK interview
1982
Smith, Michael. Of No Particular Theme, Baxter Art Gallery, Cal Tech, catalog
1981
Hopps, Walter. Six LA Sculptors, Federal Reserve Board, Washingto, DC
1981
Hopkins, Henry. Six LA Sculptors, Federal Reserve Board
1981
Knight, Christopher. Sculpture Proposals for Downtown Los Angeles, Los Angeles Herald Examiner
1981
Hugo, Joan. Woods Davy Sculpture, Security Pacific Bank
1981
Wortz, Melinda. Exhibition Review, Artnews
1981
Wilson, William. How Real is the Downtown Phenomenon?, Los Angeles Times
1981
Moreland, Pamela. Investing in Art, Calif. State Bar Journal
1981
Muchnic, Suzanne. The City as At Center, Los Angeles Times
1981
Wilson, William. Art, Los Angeles Times
1981
Garver, Thomas. Downtown Los Angeles, catalog, travelling exhibition
1980
Muchnic, Suzanne. Davy Sculpture: Form in Flux, Los Angeles Times
1979
Erickson, Laurel. Downtown LA Artist, NBC News Special Report
1979
Muchnic, Suzanne. Public Art, Public Problems, Artweek
1979
Hugo, Joan. Six Downtown Sculptors, Artweek
1979
Muchnic, Suzanne. A Train of Thought at Union Station, Visual Dialog

Carolina Alumni Review: Sorcerer’s Stones, March/April 2015
California-based sculptor Woods Davy has gained international recognition for artistry in balancing found natural elements. Davy’s prolific sculpture practice is rivaled only by his notable collection of Central African masks, both of which feed his interest in collecting and his adoration of architecture and expression.[/toggle][/accordian][accordian divider_line=”” class=”” id=””][toggle title=”Video” open=”no”][youtube id=”https://www.youtube.com/p_tQRdRikKo” width=”600″ height=”350″ autoplay=”no” api_params=”” class=””]

In ancient times a Davy sculpture might have been an object of worship, fear or ritual, and as was customary would have been anointed with oil or milk or smeared with blood of sacrifices.

– Ron Colby, A Man with Stones, documentary film

In a studio full of stones, sculptor Woods Davy trains nature to defy what’s natural. He named the series “Cantamar” after the Mexican beach where he gathers the stones used to construct the sculptures.

– KellyAalmond, The Scholar

The Woods Davy exhibition at Galerie Marie Laure de L’ecotais in Paris – the first of this artist in Europe – may cause the most cartesian (logical) of us to stop in their tracks. His creations – outcroppings of stones – vacillate between balance and tension, defying mathematic laws, and creating a surprising rapport between opposing forces. The stones appear to float in the air, renouncing their own identity as if their weight no longer existed. They seem to be held in a precarious equilibrium, evoking a feeling of total serenity. 

– Marie C. Aubert, La Gazette

For the past twenty-five years, Davy has worked with natural elements, usually incorporating various types of stone in fluid balancing acts that reflect the artist’s western Zen sensibility. The current body of work, entitled “Cantamar,” is created from stones collected on a beach in Mexico of the same name. The smooth, rounded, ovoid stones the artist collects are naturally polished and shaped by years of rolling and tumbling from wave to shore. Davy then assembles these stones in graceful, wave-like arcs that seem to float in space.

 – The American Sculptor

Woods Davy might be thought of as among the first “green” post-modern artists. In fact, he comes from a long tradition of post ‘60s artists like John Cage, who either directly or just by their practical sensibility, engage eastern or Zen notions of oneness with nature, organic systems of change as engines of art composition, non-disruptive respect for natural materials in unaltered states, and the fashioning of objects that are not your typical museum pedestal works.

– Artscene

Despite the enduring influence of modernism’s emphasis on material integrity –  the paint-for-paint’s sake philosophy that’s held sway for half a century – there is still something thrilling about a work that appears to defy its own natural properties. Such is the case with Woods Davy’s new stone sculpture, which flout the most basic law governing three-dimensional work:  gravity. In each case, the stones are joined end to end with invisible stainless steel pins and appear to be magically floating. The trick might come off as mere novelty, but for the quality of meditative reverence that underpins it. The stones retain their organic form despite their unnatural arrangement, and one is compelled to appreciate – as Davy clearly does – the simple beauty of their shape and texture.  In this sense, the works function like a Zen rock garden and will no doubt be better off in an environment more conducive than an art gallery to the practice of contemplation.

Holly Myers, The Los Angeles Times

 Heaven’s Gate is particularly Brancusian in its conversion of hard metal into supremely simple erotic poetry – but its eroticism, with the implication of female sexuality as a spiritual power of divine grandeur, is at the same time another profound identification with the tribal African vision of reality.

Jjonathan Saville, San Diego Reader

Davy has become a well-known figure on the urban landscape in recent years, both for his widely visible public commissions, such as a major piece on Wilshire Blvd., as well as many private collections. It was always easy to recognize Davy’s work for its precarious balance of rocks perched on heavy beams. Mixing an Asian sense of spareness with a sensitivity to the tension between natural and urban structures, Davy’s work had found its niche. So, like any good artist, he tried something new. New is only half of it.  Davy’s work is both a radical departure and a highly successful one. The internal tensions and the concern for balance remain, although the forms are no longer cantilevered beams; they are folded steel tubes rising triumphantly from the floor like an outcropping of silvery reeds. Reminiscent of Giaciometti’s attenuated figures as well as the bondage of Michaelangelo’s slaves, these very contemporary abstractions communicate an existential tension between transcendence and restraint, freedom and limitation.

Dinah Berland, Long Beach Press Telegram