The world is at a standstill and social distancing is part of a new norm, but studio life goes on! Braverman Gallery reached out to Dana Levy who joined us for a short conversation that offers a glimpse into the artist’s studio, work and thought process, and life under lock down.

HOW DO YOU DRINK YOUR COFFEE?
I drink black Turkish coffee (Elite) with cardamon, a little bit of almond milk and agave syrup. I love coffee but only drink it once or twice a week.

WHEN DID YOU FIRST REALIZE YOU WANTED TO BECOME AND ARTIST?
From a young age I drew and painted. I had an uncle who was a painter and his talent and devotion to his work influenced and encouraged me. My last two years of high school were spent in the UK, at a school with an amazing art department and teachers who encouraged me to keep other subjects to a minimum and focus on art. When I won first prize in a painting competition, it became clear to me that this is my path. 

WHAT ARE YOU MOST FASCINATED BY THESE DAYS?
We are living in a fascinating time! A lot of my work deals with apocalyptic themes where nature prevails. Last fall I shot a video in St. Louis MO, (still in progress) depicting a fictional future where humans are gone, and nature has taken over. I brought wild animals such as eagles, hawks, owls and reptiles to neglected, overgrown urban settings. I couldn’t have imagined that just a few months after filming, reality in so many places would go beyond imagination with wild animals spotted in urban areas while humans are in lock down.

I’ve been spending many hours watching live-stream webcams around the world that show the state deserted cities are in, under the pandemic. I’m also working on a new video for which I have been capturing the footage in real time. I can look at an empty strip in Las Vegas and an empty Piazza in Rome, and they are empty for the same reason. I find it very moving. I watch live cams of people standing 8 feet apart in Madrid in line for the supermarket, and it’s the same New York City where I live. It’s humbling to have this bird’s eye view and see how connected we all are.