The Kapell Gallery pleased to welcome Victor Elmaleh back for a reprise of his 2010 show “A Large Life in Small Paintings”. With the passage of four years, Elmaleh’s life has certainly grown larger. Born in Morocco in 1918, he has lived an extraordinary American life as a businessman, philanthropist, athlete, and self-taught artist. Following WWII, he founded an architectural firm in New York City and the company that introduced Volkswagen to the United States. He sold nearly two million cars before transitioning to real estate development. His projects include Worldwide Plaza, the landmark 50-story redevelopment of a full New York City block; Pacific Design Center in W. Hollywood, CA, designed by Cesar Pelli; and numerous residential towers. He is a champion athlete in handball, tennis, and squash. He was the national doubles handball champion in 1951 and the national doubles squash champion in 1968 at age 49. He played in numerous senior tennis tournaments, including two with with Bobby Riggs. He continues to play today at age 95. A music lover and once-aspiring pianist, he is a board member of Concert Artists Guild and formerly Orchestra of St. Luke’s. He has produced 20 recordings of accomplished young pianists for the Elmaleh Collection.
Elmaleh began painting seriously in the late 1960s, in watercolor on small, embossed cards. He has had over thirty-five gallery shows, including Roko, Saidenburg, Staempfli, AHI, Fox & Fowle, and Neuhoff in New York City; also Benson, Bujese, and Essi Fine Art in the Hamptons. He has exhibited at Bayly Art Museum and School of Architecture at University of Virginia, which named its new building for both Elmaleh and Sono. He also exhibited at Asolo Festival in Venice, Italy.
Elmaleh’s choice of subject, scale, color, and material is a metaphor for his modesty and sensitivity. This show presents a beautiful abstraction of a large and still-growing life well lived.
The exhibit opens with a party at 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 2, at which Elmaleh will be in attendance, and will run through Tuesday August 12. 25% of all sales will be donated to East End Arts.
For further information, contact kapellgallery@gmail.com or call 631-477-0100.
Kapell Gallery is located at 400 Front Street, Greenport, NY 11944.
