David Liebman of Norfolk, Virginia
FROM THE BARON AND ELLIN GORDON ART GALLERIES:
We photograph and put three questions to lenders of artworks when they visit the “Life and Limb: Works by Matt Sesow” exhibition for our “Meet the Collectors” series. David Liebman of Norfolk, Virginia lent several works for the show and is seen here with 13 of his and his brother Philip Liebman’s works by Jean-Michel Basquiat from the early 1980s.
Q: Tell us a little about yourself. A: I am a lifelong resident of Norfolk and a proud ODU alum, a published wildlife and plant photographer lucky to be in hundreds of magazines and books including National Geographic, Audubon and Reader’s Digest, a nature tour guide and frequent lecturer on a variety of topics including botany, zoology, geology and entomology, a handwriting expert testifying in high-profile cases such as JonBenét Ramsey, a professional trumpet player performing with acts like The Kingsmen of “Louie, Louie” fame and The Yardbirds, a rehabilitator of wild animals, judo black belt, entrepreneur, and collector of early Basquiats.
Q: What attracted you to Jean-Michel Basquiat’s art? A: I felt drawn to Basquiat’s art from the moment I first discovered it. The colors were bright and energetic, and they were filled with strong emotions. His unique artist’s palette included a variety of mediums - oil paints, ink, markers, crayons, charcoal, pen, pencil, watercolors - and several were typically combined in a single piece. Basquiat’s canvases could be an old newspaper, a scrap piece of cardboard, a discarded piece of cloth, an empty wall or any random article. His art reflects a wide range of subjects of his day including public figures, music, politics and social issues. The breakout style is original, thought provoking and ingeniously creative. Basquiat’s art opened new doors for future artists. Since I became involved with collecting Basquiats I’ve read every book and article, and watched every video about his art and his life. I feel like I know him, and I’ve come to greatly appreciate the person as well as his amazing works.
Q: How did you like the Life and Limb exhibition? A: The Life and Limb exhibition is much more than a display of Matt’s art. It’s a reflection of his life. The exhibit includes many of his early works, and shows how he evolved over the years - and how he is still evolving. It’s a strong statement about Matt’s determination to overcome adversity, and turn that adversity into something creative, meaningful and worthwhile. Like Basquiat, Matt’s art is colorful and dramatic. He is incredibly talented, creative and prolific. If you have the good fortune to meet Matt in person, you will be impressed with his love of life that shines through in his artwork. As the public becomes increasingly familiar with his name and his works, you can expect to see him recognized as an iconic trailblazer in his genre of art.
Thank you, David!
A Feature article about David Liebman from “Monarch Magazine” November, 2017 (click image to enlarge):
Matt Sesow, Dana Ellyn, David Liebman (August 2021):
