Nancy Dwyer

As if taking the plasticity of words literally, Nancy Dwyer makes language laugh by making it concrete, giving words a physical presence appropriate to their meaning. Words are the subject and substance of her sculptures and graphic paintings. Rather than mapping words onto a body, she gives them bodies of their own, which they occupy with "presence" appropriate to their power and privilege. In Big Ego (1990) the word EGO is made of huge yellow air-filled balloons that take up all the available space in the room. While the words are bigger than the spectator, their fragility is apparent in that they are continually deflating and in need of being pumped up.

About the Artist:
Nancy Dwyer was born in New York City in 1954. She received a B.F.A. from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Her public sculptures can be seen in Cleveland and at the Criminal Justice Center in Philadelphia. She lives and works in New York City.

Introductory Essay by Jo Anna Isaak / Pictures from the Exhibition / List of Works / Excerpts of Essays included in the Catalog / History of the Exhibition / How to order a print copy of the catalog / About the Curator / Website Credits