Statement
A lifetime resident of New York City, and one of the first inhabitants of the burgeoning artistic community in SoHo in the 1960s and 1970s, Paul Spina has created a complex and diverse life-long body of work. Using oil and acrylics on canvas, intricate pen and ink drawings and 3-D carvings and collages, Paul’s highly autobiographical pieces tell the story of growing up during World War II and bearing witness to the horrific personal testimonies of his uncles, then serving in the Armed Forces abroad.
Going to the movies with his father – many times to watch World War II dramas – and eating Good N Plenty candy, provided an escape and diversion from the heaviness of the era. These joyful and innocent childhood moments were juxtaposed against the gruesome imaginings of war fuelled by the experiences of his uncles. This stark contrast is a recurring theme in Paul’s work, as he struggled to make sense of his protected childhood innocence -- against the backdrop of War and the growth of America as an international power.
Paul recently moved from New York City to Willowick, Ohio, with his partner Esther Trepal. He passed away in 2017.