The accomplished collage
artist David Kassel launched ILevel in 1990 to enhance the appeal of
art through its installation. David’s gift for illuminating
the essence of art and unveiling new ways of seeing art
through skillful display makes ILevel the national leader in
its field.
David directs art installations of a wide variety of genres in
diverse venues. Since artworks serve varied and overlapping intentions
in different environments, he can arrange art to complement a decorative
space or place artifacts to showcase their singular merits.
With his ILevel staff of artists who have fine arts and art history
backgrounds, David consults with private collectors, corporations,
hotels, galleries, dealers, framers and the nation’s leading
interior designers and dealers, including Folk/outsider art dealer
Frank Maresca.
His acclaimed artistry and technical skill make him an ideal spokesman
as an installation artist. ILevel installations are featured often
in numerous publications, highlighting premier designers with whom
David enjoys close consultation.
Prior to founding ILevel, David held positions at the Guggenheim
Museum, Neuberger Museum and Shephard Gallery installing diverse
exhibitions from Russian Constructivism to 19th century French
Romantic painters.
David’s passion for art emerged early. His artistic journey
started as a boy in Nyack, New York, a village long known for embracing
the arts. At age seven David studied ceramics and painting at the
Rockland Foundation for the Arts. His affinity for visual art called
him to study etching and printmaking while in high school and partake
in a pre-college Cornell University arts program. He traveled widely
through Europe to view the world’s great art.
David’s BFA from Purchase College allowed him to research
in depth Josef Albers conceptions of color and practices through
Alber’s own disciple, Sewell Sillman. Here David grasped
the difference between visual intention and affect, the experience
of absorbing a concept projected by a piece of art. His art placement
at ILevel resonates with this aesthetic principle.
David describes the evolution of his personal collage art as “a
non-stop trans-temporal, trans-cultural ride.” He broadened
his artistic vision and skills at renowned art colonies, including
Dorland Mountain Colony, Villa Montalvo artist residency and The
Vermont Studio Center. His works have been exhibited in The Hudson
River Museum, Edward Hopper House, numerous galleries and private
collections.
Due to a life richly immersed in the appreciation of art, David’s
greatest asset is his gift for engaging every project with an equal
sense of vigor. Be it a priceless masterwork, family photo or object
of purely sentimental value, his art of placement enhances its
aesthetic appeal. David Kassel’s ultimate satisfaction comes
from enabling clients to live and work joyfully amidst their art.