IN THE 1960S, SVEN LUKIN (B. 1934, RIGA, LATVIA) INTRODUCED THE ART WORLD TO THE SHAPED CANVAS. THEN, IN 1972, FIRMLY ESTABLISH AMONG NEW YORK'S AVANT-GARDE, HE FLED THE SCENE. LUKIN HAS QUIETLY LIVED AND WORKED IN THE SAME STUDIO IN MIDTOWN, MANHATTAN EVER SINCE, EXPERIMENTING WITH SHAPED CANVASES OF TREE BRANCHES AND STRECHED JUTE. BRANCHES PRESENTS, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN PRINT, TWENTY-FIVE SCULPTURES FROM THIS LITTLE-KNOWN PART OF LUKIN'S OEUVRE, ALONGSIDE ESSAYS BY HISTORIAN FRANCES COLPITT.
