The George Adams Gallery is pleased to present Visual Koans: Sculpture and Works on Paper, a survey exhibition of works by Noel Neri. Neri’s debut exhibition with the gallery will be on view from April 12 through May 24, 2024. The gallery will host an opening reception with the artist on Friday, April 12, from 6 to 8 PM.

Noel Neri’s sculptures, though initially appearing abstract, are meticulously crafted based on precise measurements derived from bodily proportions. Coated in auto body paint on steel, Neri’s sculptures stand as imposing monuments to introspection and enlightenment. For example, Govardhana Mountain (2019) is a self-portrait—its dimensions correspond directly to Neri’s overall proportions. In his pursuit to strip away vanity and ego, Neri reduces the human form to austere geometric shapes, ensuring that each dimension corresponds precisely to a bodily reference. Through this process, Neri’s sculptures transcend mere representations of physical bodies, instead serving as reflections of the mind and spirit, evoking the ephemeral nature of corporeal existence.

Approaching the figure as non-representational, Neri offers an alternative means of self representation, eschewing traditional depictions in favor of abstract forms that examine the essence of being. His work functions akin to visual koans—riddles used in Zen Buddhism to transcend logical reasoning and stimulate enlightenment. Like a koan, Neri’s intention is for his sculptures to pose profound questions, encouraging viewers to contemplate personal growth and the shared human condition. Through introspection, Neri’s works invite individuals to contemplate their own evolution and the interconnectedness of humanity.

Noel Neri (b. 1962, San Francisco, CA) received his BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1995 and his MFA from the Rinehart School of Sculpture at the Maryland Institute College of Art in 1998. His work is in public collections including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Neri lives and works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.