Ernest Trova

Trova, Ernest Tino

American, 1927 - 2009

Explore selected works

The sculpture depicts a standing human figure with a posture indicating a walking motion. It is crafted from a dark metallic material, likely bronze or a similar alloy, giving it a smooth and reflective surface. The sculpture features horizontal grooves or ridges running across its body from head to toe, creating a segmented appearance. It is mounted on a rectangular base made of the same material. The figure is simplified, lacking detailed anatomical features such as facial expressions or fingers, making it somewhat abstract and stylized.
Ernest Trova, Walking Man, 1970, bronze, Gift of Enid A. Haupt, 1977.47.12

Walking Man

Ernest Trova · 1970 · bronze ·  Accession ID  1977.47.12

The sculpture features abstract, silhouetted human figures in different poses within a rectangular box-like structure. The figures are deep blue or black cutouts, enclosed by a metallic gold-framed box with glass walls reflecting the figures. The materials used include metal for the frame and glass for the surfaces. The reflections create an illusion of depth and repetition, giving a modern aesthetic. The sculpture presents a confined space with the reflections adding complexity and motion to the static figures.
Ernest Trova, Falling Man, 1970, bronze, acrylic sheet, paint, and mirror, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Burton Tremaine, 1977.75.9

Falling Man

Ernest Trova · 1970 · bronze, acrylic sheet, paint, and mirror ·  Accession ID  1977.75.9

Three elongated, curved shapes intersect at the center within a large red circle. The forms stretch outward in a triangular formation, with greenish hues suggesting fluid movement. The circular backdrop contrasts with the dark background.
Ernest Trova, Untitled, 1968, color screenprint on wove paper, Gift of Bob Stana and Tom Judy, 2017.148.64

Untitled

Ernest Trova · 1968 · color screenprint on wove paper ·  Accession ID  2017.148.64

The image shows a series of irregular pink shapes arranged on a yellow background, bordered by a solid red strip on the top and a blue strip on the bottom. The arrangement of shapes in this abstract composition may evoke the form of a seated human figure, with elements resembling a head, torso, and limbs. The bright pink shapes create a striking contrast against the subdued yellow background, while the red and blue borders frame the entire artwork.
Ernest Trova, Falling Man, 1967, cut-and-pasted painted paper with graphite on yellow wove paper, Gift of Modern Master Tapestries in memory of Charles E. Slatkin, 1983.111.3

Falling Man

Ernest Trova · 1967 · cut-and-pasted painted paper with graphite on yellow wove paper ·  Accession ID  1983.111.3

The image shows a silhouette of a head in profile made of bold, abstract shapes and lines. Layers of color in purple, pink, mustard yellow, and deep blue form the contour of the head, resembling a cut-out representation of a face. The abstract forms create the shape of a human profile viewed from the side. The colorful layers suggest depth and dimension against an off-white background.
Ernest Trova, Preparatory drawing for Modern Masters Tapestries: Portrait Head, 1960s-1970s, cut-and-pasted colored paper on board with inscribed window mat and acetate overlay, Gift of Regina Slatkin, Carole and Laura Slatkin, 1990.58.14

Preparatory drawing for Modern Masters Tapestries: Portrait Head

Ernest Trova · 1960s-1970s · cut-and-pasted colored paper on board with inscribed window mat and acetate overlay ·  Accession ID  1990.58.14

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Untitled

Ernest Trova, Pace Editions · 1971 (published 1972) · color screenprint on wove paper ·  Accession ID  2015.143.1484