José Levy

What does José Lévy do?
The answer is not that simple because his praxis blurs boundaries and are the focal point of a set of disciplines and expertise patiently investigated,compiled, arranged.


We must start by saying that José Lévy designs objects and by objects, we mean things that are manufactured. Porcelain for Sevres, ceramics for Astier de Vilatte, crystal for St.Louis, furniture for Roche-Bobois and for Gallery S. Bensimon, candles, towels, and let's not forge...more

What does José Lévy do?
The answer is not that simple because his praxis blurs boundaries and are the focal point of a set of disciplines and expertise patiently investigated,compiled, arranged.


We must start by saying that José Lévy designs objects and by objects, we mean things that are manufactured. Porcelain for Sevres, ceramics for Astier de Vilatte, crystal for St.Louis, furniture for Roche-Bobois and for Gallery S. Bensimon, candles, towels, and let's not forget clothes, not only for him but for others...

In this incredibly modern adventure we remember his unforgettable ready-to-wear collection, a work that revels in a time of fantasy and survival. Archaeologist, José Lévy explores techniques and know-how, at the same time immersing himself in popular culture while exploiting the banalities of the past, known but forgotten, which in turn fill his creations with nostalgia and reminiscence. Shared memories, loose and diluted, in order to create a current that inhabits remarkable forms, José Lévy's objects are suspended between two ages, immediate and tangible, displaying not only the modern but all that is possible.

SMB



José Lévy, Laureate of the Villa Kujoyama, Grand Prix de la ville de Paris and Chevalier des Arts et Lettres. He has collaborated with the Manufacture de Sèvres,ToolsGalerie, Emmanuel Perrotin, St. Louis, Astier de Villate, Roche-Bobois, as well as the S. Bensimon gallery...

José Lévy was born in Paris.
In total discrepancy with the 80's trends and moods, his first fashion collections pay homage to French artists Jacques Tati, Patrick Modiano or Jacques Demy and immediately put him on the international map. Recipient of many awards including Grand Prix de la Ville de Paris… he shows some of his works at the Fondation Cartier. Within thirteen years, he has made his mark on the male fashion scene with his own label, José Lévy à Paris, and asserts himself as a one of a kind colorist as much as a sharp-eyed tailor. In the same breath, he collaborates with household names like Holland & Holland, Nina Ricci, Cacharel and Emanuel Ungaro. Aiming to reach a larger audience, José Lévy also designed exclusive products for Monoprix, La Redoute, Japaneese Jeans Group Edwin, or André : a free spirit with an inquisitive, eclectic yet concentrated style.
Right from the early days of his career he has frequently lent his highly individual eye to collaborations with numerous artists -photographers and/or contemporary artists- like Jack Pierson, Gotscho, Nan Goldin, Parenno, Jean Pierre Khazem, The Kolkoz ; architects such as Xavier Gonzales, or musicians like Jay Jay Johanson and Benjamin Biolay )

Since 2007, he dedicates himself fully to this crosswise creation in between plastic arts, design, scenography, interior design .

In January 2009, Emmanuel Perrotin's Gallery exhibited "Oasis: Luconoctambul!" a personal show of his designs (furniture, luminaries…), participated to the group show "Carpet stories" at the ToolsGallery and was invited to the the scénography at Maxalto for DesignersDays . La Manufacture de Sèvres also exhibited a personnall show "Mousse de Sèvres", he designed MaPharmacie a pharmacy in Paris-Bastille .

Through a gallery showing – in limited edition – or through objects more largely distributed, José Lévy simply expresses his world, subtly toying with the idea of intimacy and familiarity, the odd and the drama with a pinch of irony. He likes to exhume memories and archetypal pieces, and revisit the culture of the companies he encounters, always distancing himself from them,
respectfully but free : a dashing and hybrid mix of dark and naive