JOEL KOPPELMAN

Artist Statement. Jan 2017

My stone carvings (in alabaster and marble) usually abstract a narrative that is rattling around in my head. I love the inherent geometric and physical challenge of removing just enough stone to distill the story and intrigue the viewer. It is amusing to associate body parts with personal stories and business deals. The title of a work is usually a cryptic or humorous reference to the back story.

In terra cotta (water-based clay), I start with the gesture but I like to exaggerate the model’s mental or emotional state by shifting the clay figure into another environment. The implied narrative warms the piece instead of leaving the model out in the cold.

My recent attempts at acrylic painting explore abstraction at the beginning rather than the end of a work. Unlike representational work where the perfect result defies me to get it right, abstract work requires thought, analysis, composition, and willingness to ruthlessly discard and redo again and again, all in the hope of making something that captures the viewer's attention and imagination.

Bio

Joel Koppelman is an artist who lives, sculpts and paints in Santa Monica. Most of his stone sculpture has narrative elements that are often woven around body parts. His clay work is figurative that serves an invented narrative while his abstract paintings are still devoid of a script.

Before moving from Philadelphia in 2016, Joel took many years of continuing education classes in stone carving at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (PAFA) with Steve Nocella and in terra cotta with Colleen O’Donnell whose knowledge, guidance and encouragement continue to inspire him. Joel exhibited for years at the annual Continuing Education juried shows at PAFA, and won a few awards over the years. In addition to working in his studio, Joel enjoys weekly classes in figurative drawing and sculpting, and abstract painting at the Brentwood Art Center.

Joel was co-founder and CEO of the leading project management software company, Primavera Systems, from 1983 until 2008 when it acquired by Oracle. As SVP and GM, he ran the Oracle Primavera Global Business Unit until 2011 when he retired to concentrate on making art. Joel holds a BA in Civil Engineering from Drexel University and an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Until moving west, he was an active member of the Boards of Drexel University (6 years), Opera Philadelphia (6 years) and PAFA (3 years).

Joel was born and raised in Philadelphia. Joel and his wife Sharon have four children, Sandy, Nora, David and Rick.