Larry Kagan
Men
9 May — 20 June, 2026
Artist Reception
Sat 9 May — 1-3 pm
New York, NY – Louis K. Meisel Gallery is pleased to present the work of sculptor Larry Kagan, who is renowned for his innovative use of steel, light, and shadow. Through intricately fabricated assemblages and strategic light distribution, Kagan creates works that extend beyond physical form, challenging and redefining the boundaries of traditional sculpture.
Departing from known sculptural conventions, Larry Kagan’s work invites viewers to reconsider the nature of form and perception. What initially appears as a raw aggregation of disordered steel resolves into carefully orchestrated compositions. With the introduction of light, these structures cast remarkably detailed shadow images that emerge with striking clarity. The steel functions like a skeletal framework, supporting a secondary, ephemeral image that materializes on the wall.
These masterful results are owed to Kagan’s precision with steel minutiae. He begins with a preconceived shadow image and constructs abstract steel configurations. When illuminated from a calculated angle, these structures project vivid and recognizable figures and objects. The result is an interplay between material and illusion, where solid form gives rise to an image that exists in a liminal space between the tangible and the intangible.
Trained as an engineer, Kagan transitioned to the visual arts under the mentorship of sculptor Richard Stankiewicz. After working with acrylics throughout the 1960s and 1970s, he shifted exclusively to metal in the 1980s, which was a career-defining moment for Kagan. His work is often aligned with that of Neil Jenney, Robert Lobe and Kathleen Gilge from that period; in that, Kagan’s artwork expanded the existing definition of Realism. His sculptures have been exhibited widely and are included in numerous public and private collections, including The Jewish Museum and the Flint Institute of Arts. He is currently based in Los Angeles.
Larry Kagan: Men will be on view from May 9 through June 20 at Louis K. Meisel Gallery. An opening reception will be held at the gallery on Saturday, May 9, from 1–3 PM.
Featured Works
About Larry Kagan
Larry Kagan (b. 1946, Germany) is an American sculptor renowned for his innovative use of steel, light, and shadow. Through intricately fabricated assemblages and controlled illumination, his work extends beyond physical form to create striking shadow images. Kagan’s practice explores the dynamic relationship between object and shadow, inviting viewers to consider how perception shapes meaning.
Larry Kagan received a B.S. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and a M.A. in Studio Arts from the State University of New York at Albany. Kagan’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, and he is represented in numerous private and public collections, including the Flint Institute of the Arts, Flint, MI, the Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, OH, and The Jewish Museum, New York, NY to name a few. Most recently, Kagan’s work was featured at the Montclair Art Museum.
