Adrian Nivola: Rare Birds & The Architecture of the Instrument

From September 3 through October 4, 2021 The Drawing Room is pleased to present wire and wood sculpture by Adrian Nivola from two series: The Architecture of the Instrument and Rare Birds. The artist's third show at the gallery is a lively installation that combines wall sculptures of imaginary lutes and guitars with an aviary of beaded wire birds. Inspired at an early age by Alexander Calder’s Circus, Nivola configures his objects with characteristic workmanship and delicate assemblage techniques to give each work an original presence.

With titles such as Samurai Falcon, Imperial Warbler and Lear’s Woodpecker the life size wrought wire birds are presented on perches, in flight and on pedestals which invite viewing in the round. Inspired by David Attenborough’s 2015 documentary, Paradise Birds, each of Nivola’s silhouetted wire forms captures the dance and physiognomy of an imagined bird, reflecting the artist’s awe at the infinite variations that evolution fosters in our natural world.

On the walls opposite the birds, Nivola presents the larger wood instruments from his ongoing series, The Architecture of the Instrument. A talented pianist and jazz aficionado, Nivola’s love of musical traditions has earned him a deep appreciation of the purposeful designs of orchestral instruments.

 
See below for full press release and selected works.