AP
Carl D’Alvia drains the severity from minimalist sculpture by burying geometric forms under exaggerated, cartoonish textures like fur, hair, feathers, grass, scales, and (as in this work) over-the-top wood grain. The fake wood of Pup began as “boards” carved from oil clay, which D’Alvia casts in resin to heighten the divide between the suggested material and the actual object. The title of the piece adds another dimension of humor, changing the viewer’s perception of a composition reminiscent of Carl Andre or Joel Shapiro into an expectant puppy glancing over at the viewer. Based in Connecticut and New York, D’Alvia has exhibited across the US and internationally.