David Scher was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Words that come to mind when thinking of his work include, but are not limited to, humorous, ingenious, prodigious, and multifarious, biting, generous, and inimitable.
Each drawing and painting is a world unto itself, while a language of figures, exquisite line, and mark-making link one to the next. In each of these worlds there is a provocative sense to Scher’s non-sense. “My…approach consists of establishing fields where multiple things occur in proximity. These are familiar fields, including walls, tabletops, stages, shores, and pages. My work is composed within these constructs using diverse mediums and instruments as the subject demands.”
Scher’s work has been exhibited widely in the US and internationally, and is included in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (NYC) among others.
CV
BORN
St. Louis, Missouri. 1952
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2017
“The first bird wore a bird costume,” Pierogi, New York, NY
“Does It Fold?,” The Lab, The Drawing Center, New York, NY
“Une curieuse historie médiévale,” Galerie Jean Brolly, Paris, France
2015
“The Corner Habit,” Galerie Ute Parduhn, Dusseldorf
“Joe Amrhein and David Scher,” Jochen Hempel Gallery, Berlin, Germany (13 March – 11 April) (Two-person)
2014
“Suspended Interruption,” Pierogi, Brooklyn, NY (17 October – 16 November)
“Mademoiselle Mars,”Galerie Jean Brolly, Paris, France (5 April – 10 May)
“Unswerving Dodge- Super U and Me” La Poissonnerie, Marseille, France (14 March – 18 April)
2013
“l’Utopie Pictorale!,” Villat Dutroit, Geneva, Switzerland (17 January-3 February)
“Interiors and Exteriors,” Christian Aubert, Paris
Drawing Now, Paris
2012
“The Miniscule Dot of Distinction,” la Poissonnerie, Marseille, France (November)
2011
“Only Rogers and Crabbe are free,” Vous Etes Ici, Art Rotterdam
Galerie Jean Brolly, Paris, France
Charlotte Moser Gallery, Geneva, Switzerland
“Between the Acts: The Bagnolo Suite,” Pierogi, Brooklyn, NY
“Of a cat, of a cat,” Galerie Jean Brolly, Paris France
2010
Regular Is Best, Pierogi, Brooklyn, NY
2009
“Black Metal Daybed,” Galerie Charlotte Moser, Geneva
“The Cartin Collection @ Ars Libri: David Scher,” Ars Libri, Boston, MA
“Everything Is Everyhwere, In It’s Own Way,” Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY
2008
“Swept, Mopped and Clocked,” Vous Etes Ici, Amsterdam (5 September–6 October)
“Another Day, Another Rhombus,” Ute Parduhn, Dusseldorf
“The end is near (in a way), so repent somehow,” Jean Brolly, Paris (Catalogue)
2007
“Patchy Valley Fog / Nebelunfall,” Pierogi, Leipzig, Germany
2006
“Practice World,” Pierogi, Brooklyn, NY (Catalog)
HUT Hudson, Hudson, NY
2003
“ptg.,” Leo Koenig Inc., New York
2002
Roberts & Tilton, Los Angeles
2001
“Sin Mayo”, Museo des Artes, Guadalajara, Mexico
Roberts & Tilton, project space, Los Angeles
2000
“Diary of a Spaceman,” Leo Koenig Inc., New York
“Varpness,” Jack Tilton Gallery, New York
1999
“Selecciones,” Museo des Artes, Guadalajara, Mexico
1998
Jack Tilton Gallery, New York
1997
“History of the Marching Band,” Miami Dade Community College, Wolfson Galleries, Miami, FL
1995
“Subvoyant”, Jack Tilton Gallery, New York”The Collected Works”, Pierogi 2000, Brooklyn, NY (catalogue)
1991
Four Walls, Brooklyn, NY
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2022
“Make Art Not War: Pierogi for Peace,” Pierogi, Brooklyn, NY
2021
“Pulp,” Pierogi, Brooklyn, NY
2020
“First, Second and Third Person,” Pierogi, New York, NY (January 19 – February 16)
2019
“Martin Wilner | The Case Histories: Pierogi / Responsa,” Pierogi, New York, NY (May 11 – June 16)
“Drawn Together Again,” The FLAG Art Foundation, New York, NY (February 23 – May 18)
“Mind’s Eye,” Pierogi, New York, NY
2018
“Les Fleurs du Mal,” Pierogi, New York, NY
2017
“Double Down,” Pierogi, New York, NY
2016
“50 Shades of Red,” Herter Art Gallery, University of Massachusetts, MA
“Rage For Art (Once Again),” Pierogi, New York, NY
“Dialogues: Drawings and Works on Paper,” Satellite Contemporary, Las Vegas, NV (January 8 – February 12)
2015
“Misappropriations: New Acquisitons,” Orange County Museum of Art, Newport Beach, CA (February 15 – May 24)
2014
“Codex,” Wattis Institute, California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA
Curated by Pierre Leguillon (23 January – 29 March)
“Noah,” New York, NY. Curated by Darren Aronofsky
“Pierogi XX: Twentieth Anniversary Exhibition,” Pierogi, Brooklyn, NY (5 September – 11 October)
2013
“Unhinged,” Pierogi, Brooklyn, NY
2012
“Unzuverlassiger Erzahler,” Teapot Gallery, Cologne, Germany
“Modus Vivendi,” Pierogi, Brooklyn, NY
“Face to Face – eine Portraitaustellung,” Galerie Parduhn, Dusseldorf, Germany
“Oeuvres sur papier,” Galerie Jean Brolly, Paris, France
2011
Bormida Porgetto #1, Piedmont, Italy
“Assembley,” Edward Thorp Gallery, New York, NY
“Walking the Line,” Kudlek van der Grinten Galerie, Cologne, Germany
“Subjective / Objective,” Pierogi, Brooklyn, NY
“Signs on the Road,” Curatorial Research Lab @ Winkleman Gallery, New York, NY
2010
“Instructions Not Included,” Pierogi, Brooklyn, NY
2009
“Cream, no sugar,” Pierogi, Brooklyn, NY
“Animal Hits,” Galerie Charlotte Moser, Geneva
Callicoon Fine Arts, Callicoon, NY
“Pierre, Feuille, Ciseaux: Dessins Contemporains,” Musee de la Chasse et de la Nature, Paris
2008
“Between Us,” Leo Koenig, Inc, Andes, NY
“Apocalyptic Summer,” Pierogi, Brooklyn, NY
“Pierogi et al,” Daniel Weinberg Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2007
“Stranger In Paradise,” Charlotte Moser, Geneva, Switzerland
“Genesis, I’m Sorry,” Greene Naftali, New York, NY. Curated by Josh Smith
“(Un)Natural Selection,” Pierogi, Brooklyn, NY
2006
“Weak Foundations,” Momenta Art, Brooklyn, NY
Group Exhibition, Pierogi Leipzig
2005
Drawing Exhibition, Museo des Artes Carrillo Gil, Mexico City, Mexico
25th Anniversary, Jack Tilton, New York, NY
2004
“Don Toledo,” The Auk, Hamden, NY
“Abeyance,” Zeiher-Smith Gallery, New York, NY
“For Pleasure,” Priska Juska Fine Art, Brooklyn, NY. Curated by Ryan Schneider
2003
“American Dream,” Ronald Feldman Fine Arts, New York, NY
Greener Pastures, Toronto, Canada
2002
“Boiled or Fried”, Pierogi, Brooklyn, NY
Leo Koenig Inc, Las Vegas
“It’s Only Words”, Mirror Gallery, London College of Printing, UK
Geoffrey Young Gallery, Great Barrington, MA
The Susan & Michael Hort Collection, New York, NY. Curated by Simon Watson
2001
“Luck of the Drawn”, Geoffrey Young Gallery, Great Barrington, MA
2000
“Achieving Failure: Gym Culture 2000,” Thread Waxing Space
“New, New, New”, curated by Patrick Callery, AD*HOC, NYC
“Five Sculptors”, curated by Joe Amrhein, Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus
“Out of Line,” im NiL, Brooklyn, New York
“The Standard Model (Game Face)”, Geoffrey Young Gallery, Great Barrington, MA
“Talleres: Art from Guadalajara Workshops,” Gallery of Mexican Cultural Institute, New York
“Quiet,” Leo Koenig, Inc., New York
“Haulin’ Ass, Pierogi in L.A.,” Post, Los Angeles
“Everything Everywhere,” H.Lewis Gallery, Baltimore, MD
1999
“Shout Outs,” Rice University Art Gallery, Houston, TX
“Vessel Language,” Jane Hartsook Gallery, New York
“Zone of Risibility,” Rotunda Gallery, New York
“Rage for Art,” Pierogi 2000, New York
“I’m a Virgin”, The Waiting Room, University of Wolverhampton, U.K.
“Package,” P.S. 122, New York
“Siah Armajani and David Scher,” Leo Koenig, Inc., Brooklyn, New York
“The Altoids Curiously Strong Collection,” Centre Gallery, Miami; Robert Berman Gallery,
Santa Monica, CA; Inside Art, Chicago
“Talleres: Art from Guadalajara Workshops,” Track 16 Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
1998
“Interpreting,” The Rotunda Gallery, Brooklyn, New York
“Drawings: Second Annual National Invitational,” Meyerson & Nowinski Gallery, Seattle, WA
“Tom Patchett Collection,” Museo des Artes, Guadalajara, MX
“Pet Show,” Bronwyn Keenan Gallery, New York
“Bathroom,” Thomas Healy, Gallery, New York
1997
“Art on Paper,” Weatherspoon Art Gallery, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, NC
“Gasworks”, Pierogi 2000, London, U.K.
“World Views”, Deutche Bank, New York
“Drawn and Quartered”, Karen McCready Gallery, New York
“Current Underground: Working in Brooklyn”, Brooklyn Museum of Art, Brooklyn, NY
“Art Writing: words in works on paper”, Geoffrey Young Gallery, Great Barrington, MA
“Just What Do You Think You’re Doing Dave”, Williamsburg Art & Historical Center, Bklyn, NY
“Bedbugs at Snorewalls: the art moving parasitic trilogy”, Four Walls, New York
“Road Show”, Bronwyn Keenan Gallery, New York
“La Tradicion, Performing Paintings”, Exit Art, New York
“Ceramics”, White Columns, New York
1996
“Imaginary Beings”, Exit Art, New York
“Drawings”, Rupert Goldsworthy, Berlin, Germany
“Dissociationism”, Four Walls, Brooklyn, New York
“Currents”, Christies East, New York
“Other Subjects”, Jack Tilton Gallery, New York
“Constriction”, Pierogi 2000, Brooklyn, New York
White Columns Benefit, New York
New Museum Benefit, New York
Art Exchange Art Fair
1995
“Multiples…”, Pierogi 2000, Brooklyn, New York
“Boxes II”, Gabi Rivet Gallery, Cologne, Germany
“Der Grosse Guckkasten”, curated by Stefan Bohnenberger, Venice, Italy; Frankfurt,
Germany; Budapest, Hungary
“Other Rooms”, Ronald Feldman Gallery, New York
“Chocolate”, The Swiss Institute, New York
Earl McGrath Gallery, New York
1994
New Museum Benefit, New York
1993
“Seven Rooms”, P.S.1, Long Island City, New York
“Four Walls Benefit”, David Zwirner Gallery, New York
“Four Walls Project”, Postmasters Gallery, New York
1991
“No Germans To The Front”, Rhenania, Cologne, Germany
“Birdsong”, Fortress Amerika, Cologne, Germany
“I (Ich)”, Storm, Amsterdam, Holland
1990
“K.K. Kunstraum”, Klapperhof, Cologne, Germany
CURATED EXHIBITIONS
2006
“Our Town,” HUT Hudson, Hudson, NY
2004-06
Windows exhibitions, HUT Hudson, Hudson, NY
2005
“Dry Goods,” The Auk, Hamden, New York
2001
Founded MOCO, The Nostril Museum
1997
“Road Show”, Bronwyn Keenan Gallery, New York
1996
“Stephan Bohnenberger”, Pierogi 2000, Brooklyn, New York
1995
“Other Subjects”, Jack Tilton Gallery, New York
1994
“Bologna, not the city: fear and the spot check”, Four Walls, Brooklyn, New York
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2017
Scher, David. “The Manure Wagons Roll On,” Hyperallergic, October 7, 2017
Scher, David. “What Will Our Grandchildren Say About Trump?” Hyperallergic, July 15, 2017
2014
Practice World, artist book with text by Jean-Luc Fernandes, April 2014
2013
Lippy, Tod. “Found Sketchbook,” Esopus, 2013
2012
Artist Project, photo and drawing, Cabinet Magazine, Time Issue, Winter 2011-12
Loi, Emmanuel. “David Scher at American Gallery,” Inferno Magazine, May 2012
2011
Goldfarb, Max. “Drawing Buildings,” Mark Batty Publisher, 2011
Portfolio, Kunstbeeld, Issue #5, 2011
Dagen, Philippe, “David Scher et Remy Hysbergue,” le Monde, February 27, 2011
Lehut, Anne. “David Scher, Of a cat of a cat,” Slash and Paris Art, February 19, 2011
2010
Gomez, Edward, M. Art in America, New York Review, December 1, 2010
Maliszewski, Lynn. “David Scher at Pierogi,” White Hot Magazine, September 2010
Corwin, William. “Top Ten Shows in New York,” Saatchi online, October 2010
Gómez, Edward M. “Drawn Together,” Art and Antiques, October 2010
2008
Drawings by artist, Fence Magazine, Volume 11, Number 1, 2008
Gavard-Perret, J-P., “Un morceau d’espace, une espece d’homme,” Artpoint, France. January 13, 2008
2007
Smith, Roberta. “Genesis I’m Sorry,” The New York Times, August 3, 2007
Schmerler, Sarah. “(Un)Natural Selection,” Time Out New York, August 9, 2007
Text/piece by artist, Taking Things Seriously, Princeton Architectural Press, May, 2007
TV Interview, Vernissage TV. Swab Art Fair, Barcelona. May 16, 2007
2006
Schjeldahl, Peter. “Temptations of the Fair,” The New Yorker, Dec. 25, 2006
Catalogue, Pierogi, Brooklyn, New York, November 2006
Kunin, Aaron. The Mandarin, illustrated novel, illustrations by David Scher, Fence Books, 2007
Text by artist, Henry Buhl Collection Calendar, 2006
2004
Artist insert. “Into the Green,” Esopus Magazine, No. 2, Spring 2004
2003
Smit, Guy Richards. Top Ten, Artforum, May 2003
Worth, Alexi. Galeries-Downtown, The New Yorker, January 27, 2003, p. 17
Saltz, Jerry. “Paper Trail,” The Village Voice, January 29-February 4, 2003, p. 56
Mar, Alex. The New York Sun, Thursday, January 30, 2003, p. 14
Bollen, Christopher “David Scher-ptg.,” Time Out New York, Feb. 6-13, 2003 Iss. 384
2002
Twardy, Chuck. Las Vegas Weekly, “Downtown Imports,” May 30m 2002
2001
Cotter, Holland. “Martin Kippenberger, Marko Lehanka, David Scher,” The New York Times, Feb 2, 2001
2000
Mahoney, Robert. “Five Sculptors,” Time Out New York, September 14-21, 2000
Smith, Roberta. “Urban Exercise: Stretching the Definitions of Outdoor Art,” The New York Times, July 28, 2000
Levin, Kim. “Voice Choices,” The Village Voice, May 23, 2000
1999
Cueto, Monica Ashida. ”David Scher, un artista capaz de cualquier cosa,” Publico (Guadalajara, MX), June 24, 1999
Ortiz, Victor. “’Rompe’ con el arte,” Mural (Guadalajara), June 25, 1999
1998
Smith, Roberta. “David Scher,” The New York Times, 1998
1997
Levin, Kim. “Work in Progress: Art and Exhibitionism in Soho,” The Village Voice, April 22, 1997
Nahas, Dominique. “La Tradicion: Performing Painting,” Review, April 15, 1997
Conley, Brian. “Dissociationism, P.S.1 New York, New York,” Zing Magazine, January, 1997
Ballou, Mike. “Transcription of Dissociationism Panel,” Zing Magazine, January 1997
1996
Galloway, Munro. “Brooklyn, Artist Space: 2001,” Art Press, #212, April 1996
1995
Smith, Roberta. “David Scher,” The New York Times, December 22, 1995
Levin, Kim. “Art Short List: David Scher,” The Village Voice, December 26, 1995
“Talent: David Scher,” New York, December 18, 1995
Hagen, Charles. “David C. Scher,” The New York Times, June 16, 1995
Erdmann, Andreas. “Daheim,” Volumes 1-4, Cologne, Germany 1994-5
1992
Hein, Wilhelm. “Portraits,” 16 mm film, Cologne, Germany 1992
1991
Storm Gallery. “I(Ich),” videotape, 110 minutes, Cologne/Amsterdam, 1991
SELECTED PERFORMANCES
2015
Film Club Performance, The Boiler, Brooklyn, NY
2004
“Don Toledo,” The Auk, Hamden, NY
2002
“Frank Noise,” Jack Tilton Gallery, New York
2001
“The Minute Counters”, three nights of performance in conjunction with Gelatin show at Leo
Koenig, New York
“Spacewalk”, new media performance on the WWW, and Gallery of the Moving Image
Reading, Café Brenda, Minneapolis, MN
2000
Frank Noise, Jack Tilton Gallery, New York
Reading, Flat, New York
1999
Buster Keaton films, music performance with Brian Dewan, Tonic, New York
1998
Music performance with Brian Dewan for Russian Film Festival, Brooklyn Museum of Art,
New York
Film Club Performance, Brooklyn Anchorage, New York
1997
Actor, Luna Chicks music video, appeared in feature film “Boys Don’t Cry”
“Ersatz Musicale”, Greenwich House Music School, New York
1991-2001
Film Club founder/performer in Film Club Trio
1971-2002
Frank Noise Music Ensemble numerous performances
AWARDS/GRANTS
2012
Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation Grant
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
2001
El Spot, a Forty unit resort in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Sigurd Sorensen Residence, 4,000 square-foot 19th century barn, Fleischmanns, NY
Leo Koenig, Inc. Gallery space, New York, NY
2000
Jack Tilton, Gallery space, New York, NY
1995
Zemor Residence, New York, NY
1990
Paul Moore Residence, Brownstone, Bank Street, New York, NY
1989
Accolti Residence, New York, NY
1983
Garrison Keillor Residence, St. Paul, Minnesota 1600.last two prints
SELECTED PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
The Museum of Modern Art (NYC)
The Whitney Museum of American Art (NYC)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (NYC)
The Altoids Curiously Strong Art Collection
Musée de la Chasse, Paris
FRAC PACA, Marseille
Artothèque Limousin
Collection Guerlain
Médiathèque Strasbourg
Orange County Museum of Art (L.A.)