Beverly Hills is breaking ground for “Love Anatomy,” the eight-foot bronze sculpture by acclaimed Romanian-American artist Alexandra Nechita. The work will be installed on the west side of the Burton Way median, facing three other existing sculptures (“Sisyphus” by Alexander Liberman, “World On Its Hind Legs” by William Kentridge and “Folded Square – Alphabet G” by Fletcher Benton). “Love Anatomy” joins the city’s impressive Public Art collection, which numbers close to 100 pieces.
Born in Romania, Nechita began drawing at age two and held her first exhibit at age eight at the Los Angeles Public Library. Dubbed the “Petite Picasso” for her mastery of color and form, she has exhibited worldwide and amassed an international following. In 2008, Nechita graduated from UCLA with a degree in Fine Arts. She now lives in Los Angeles.
One of five towering figure sculptures produced by Nechita, “Love Anatomy” depicts a stylized female figure in the artist’s signature neo-modernist manner.
“Love Anatomy,” said Art Critic Peter Frank, is a “splendid example of Nechita’s human optimism.”
Work on the installation site commenced this week and coincides with the redesign of the Burton Way median. When completed, the location will incorporate drought-tolerant vegetation, bioswales and a storm water retention site. From now through April 30, “Love Anatomy” will cause minimal noise and traffic impact from equipment and crew working Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. On April 22, between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., the city will implement traffic control on the east bound side of Burton Way between North Crescent Drive and Foothill Road for the installation of the sculpture.
Once installed, “Love Anatomy” will be viewable until landscape redesign takes place. Thereafter, all the sculptures will be covered for the approximately one-year construction period. For more information about Public Art in Beverly Hills, visit www.beverlyhills.org/publicart.
