Simon Toparovsky

After attending the California College of Arts and Crafts and the University of California, Berkeley, Toparovsky apprenticed to hand bookbinders in the US and England. In 1976, he was invited to head the new apprenticeship program at the Center for Book Arts in New York. While living and teaching there, he created a body of artwork comprising one-of-a-kind books that are recognized for their craftsmanship, innovation with materials, and for pushing the conceptual boundaries of the field. These works are included in many public collections. His Tikal Codex was acquired by the Cooper-Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum and awarded the special designation “first book as art for the permanent collection.”

Toparovsky has focused on narrative sculpture since he moved to Los Angeles in 1981. Working with wax and clay, found objects, manipulated plants and textiles, he has created cast bronze panels, figures, and mixed media compositions which stand alone and are used as elements for site-specific installations. He has been commissioned to create private art gardens and large scale public works