“School of Visual Arts (SVA) honors the late Marshall Arisman, prolific artist and founder of the College’s MFA Illustration as Visual Essay program, with ‘Does That Make Sense?,’ an exhibition—named for Arisman’s beloved idiom—of his lesserknown works. Designed and curated by Arisman’s recently appointed successor and program alumnus Riccardo Vecchio (MFA 1996 Illustration as Visual Essay), in collaboration with SVA Galleries and Arisman’s wife, writer Dee Ito, ‘Does That Make Sense?’ will be on view Thursday, January 25, through Monday, February 12, 2024, at the SVA Gramercy Gallery, 209 E 23rd St., New York City.

Carefully chosen by Vecchio and Ito from an enormous archive in his personal studio, works include a wide variety of drawings and prints ofArisman’s signature monkeys including from his illustrated novel The Divine Elvis and other books, a triptych from a series focused on the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in WWII, humorous and culturally skewering comic-style pieces, and even an array of unfinished projects. As a whole, they reflect an artist engrossed in his process. A mix of paintings, illustrations, writings and sketches in Arisman’s signature inky hues and scratchy fine lines, convey a limitless curiosity and an undying passion for his craft.” — School of Visual Arts

Installation views of Marshall Arisman:”Does That Make Sense?” at School of Visual Arts Gallery.

Of “Does That Make Sense?,” Vecchio notes, “As artists, we are grateful for the recognition and fame that come with cohesive, iconic and recognizable styles, yet at the same time the work that gives us fame can also hinder the many, often divergent, facets and curiosities we are eager to explore. In my journey through his archives, it was evident to me that Marshall never stopped questioning, searching, experimenting. Aside from the groundbreaking and well-documented works that brought him fame and defined an era, many of the folders were filled with work that defied chronology and dates; as Marshall passionately painted over works, retitling, changing dates or tearing them apart to create completely new pieces. This show will, I hope, reveal Marshall as the eternally curious, indefatigable artist that he was.”

Title image: Marshall Arisman, Monkey with Pencil, 1980s, ink and spray paint on paper, 33 x 25 inches.

Images courtesy School of Visual Arts.