Park West Gallery CEO Albert Scaglione Hosts Epic Retrospective with Rare Appearance by World-Renowned Artist Yaacov Agam

December 29, 2010 (PRLEAP.COM) Entertainment News
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (December 29, 2010) – Park West Gallery, now in its 42nd year as a leading fine art dealer, recently curated a landmark retrospective highlighting historically significant works by Israeli artist Yaacov Agam. The collection was unveiled aboard Norwegian Epic during an art collector's cruise hosted by Park West Gallery and its CEO and founder, Albert Scaglione. The December 4-11, 2010 voyage was Agam's inaugural cruise and a rare opportunity for Park West Gallery collectors to interact with the artist.

The Epic retrospective was presented to nearly one hundred Park West Gallery VIP collectors aboard Norwegian Cruise Line's largest and most innovative Freestyle Cruising ship. The Park West Gallery Agam collection featured one-of-a-kind paintings, agamographs (a multiple series of images, viewed through a lenticular lens), metallic sculptures and several other mediums. Many of the works were newly released from the Park West Gallery archives; some had not been exhibited publicly for six decades.

"It was thrilling to be able to provide the opportunity for our clients to meet Yaacov Agam and acquire his works at this special cruise ship art auction event," said Albert Scaglione, Park West Gallery CEO and founder. "Now in his early 80s, Agam is certainly one of the most important artists alive today."

Famously known as the "Father of Kinetic Art," Yaacov Agam pioneered a new art form which stresses change and movement. He has enjoyed great public success, becoming one of the most influential artists of modern times. In late 2010, Agam's importance as a highly sought-after artist was reflected by two record-shattering international auction sales - the highest bids ever fetched by a living Israeli artist.

"We were so fortunate to have Agam join us and provide such a unique experience to our group of collectors," Albert Scaglione added. "Park West Gallery's relationship with Agam goes back to the 1970s. I am very pleased to have been able to facilitate this opportunity for our clients to spend time with Agam. It is truly remarkable for our clients to hear him discuss his works and experience his presence."

In 1980, a retrospective exhibition of Agam's works, entitled "Beyond the Visible," was held at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York. Agam's "selected suites" were at the Jewish Museum in New York (1975) and the "Chambre Agam" is permanently installed at Le Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, France. The artist's commissions include: "Homage a Mondrian" Le Mondrian Hotel, Los Angeles (1985); "Reflection and Depth," Port Authority of New York; Synagogue Design and Civic Center, Ben-Gurion University (1979). He has created sculptures for The Wailing Wall in Jerusalem and for the 2009 World Games, entitled "Peaceful Communication for the World," in Kaohsiung, Taiwan; a monumental fountain in La Défense in Paris France; Water and Fire, a contemporary fountain-sculpture in Dizengoff Square, Tel Aviv; the Guinness World Record certified "World's Largest Menorah," which stands in New York City during Hanukkah and has been lit in years past by Mayors Ed Koch, Rudolph Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg; and most recently, "The Heart of the Fountainhead" in Taipei City.

Agam is the pioneer of the Agam Method, a visual language education program developed in conjunction with the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel. He also writes extensively about his work, and has had several books published on his imagery, concepts, and exhibitions including, Agam, by Frank Popper, published by Harry Abrams.

About Park West Gallery
Since its founding in 1969 by Albert Scaglione, Park West Gallery has brought fine artworks to more than 1.2 million clients around the world through its gallery locations in Michigan and Florida as well as art auctions on cruise ships and in major metropolitan areas. Park West Gallery's mission is to create an educational, entertaining, and welcoming environment that ignites a passion for the arts and creates a collecting experience like no other company in the world. Park West Gallery supports a myriad of artistic talent, engages the widest array of audiences, and advocates genuine artistry while maintaining only the highest of professional standards. To inquire about purchasing artwork from the Park West Gallery Fine Art Collection, please visit http://sales.parkwestgallery.com or call toll-free (800) 521-9654 ext. 4. For media inquiries only, please contact media@parkwestgallery.com.