Artwork copyright Phillip Levine. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2004.

Artwork copyright Phillip Levine. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Artwork copyright Phillip Levine. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Artwork copyright Phillip Levine. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Icarus, 1979

Phillip Levine
(American, born 1931, died 2021)

Location: Washington State Arts Commission, Kelso

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Icarus is a bronze sculpture that depicts a figure with wings instead of arms. The piece references the Greek myth, in which Icarus' father Daedalus constructs wings of wax for his son, but warns him not to fly too close to the sun, or the wings would melt. Icarus does not heed his father's warning, and falls into the sea. The theme of the myth explores man's hubris, or foolish pride and overconfidence.

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Kelso School District.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Northwest artist Phillip Levine (1931-2021) created bronze figurative sculptures for public and private spaces. His sculptures are realistic but with exaggerated or minimized elements such as long limbs. They often play with the elements of balance and movement. In his own words, "All my life I had heard 'The figure is dead.' But I was always drawn to it."

Levine was born in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in Denver, Colorado. He entered the University of Colorado as a pre-med student and graduated in 1953 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in sculpture from the University of Washington in Seattle in 1961. He was honored with a Washington State Governor's Arts and Heritage Award in 1997. He has more than 30 sculptures in public places in Western Washington, half a dozen more in Eastern Washington, with others across the U.S.