DAVID IRVING WEINER

FOUNDER; CHIEF CONSERVATOR

Serving as David Irving Studio’s premier restoration artist, head conservator and C.E.O, Weiner has built a reputation for precision craftsmanship and unparalleled results. He offers clients a singular approach of discretion, sensitivity and conservative rates.

Coming from a lineage of inventors, artists and chemists, Weiner is a hybrid of all these and more.  Weiner’s great grandfather was an inventor and mechanical wizard; his grandfather was a sculptor, and his father a chemist.  Upon completing his undergraduate studies in sculpture and psychology, Weiner continued on the artists’ path, apprenticing with world-renowned sculptor Boaz Vaadia and multimedia artist Mihai “Nova” Poppa of “Nova’s Ark”.  Afterwards, Weiner attained a position within the prestigious Polich Tallix Fine Art Foundry in 2006, whereby he was trained by the finest artisans in the world.  Over this three year span, he developed a mastery of metal patination, restoration, fabrication and finishing.  

Post Polich Tallix, Weiner travelled throughout Europe to deepen his craft.  Making this “pilgrimage” to the foundry mecca, Pietrasanta, Italy, he expanded his breadth of knowledge to include the sculptural traditions of contemporary Italian masters.  Afterwards, Weiner went on to earn an MFA from Stony Brook University in Visual Arts to further develop his oeuvre and technical skill sets. 

Weiner uniquely marries his technical foundry expertise with an artist’s eye. In this spirit, he founded David Irving Studio Inc. in 2011 and has been working with the foremost galleries, collectors, and artists ever since.   

For an in-depth representation of Weiner’s artistic corpus, please visit his artist URL: davidirvingweiner.com

FELIPE GUEVARA-VAZQEUZ

DEPARTMENTAL LEAD OF FABRICATION AND RESTORATION

Formally trained as an artisan at Polich Tallix fine art foundry, Felipe Guevara Vazquez is a master craftsman working across all mediums and materials.  Highly skilled in every aspect of metal fabrication, casting, finishing and patination, the quality of Guevara’s workmanship is second to none.  A proud Mexican-American, Guevara’s deep ancestral connection to his rich Mexican lineage of craftspeople (tracing back to the Aztecs) intuitively informs his understanding and relationship to the earth and it’s elemental forces.  This innate knowledge gives Guevarra a unique advantage in the ancient art of metal patination.  Additionally, Guevara is an amazing self-taught artist; his work can be viewed here: Felipe Guevara Vazquez: artwork

Carolanne LEslie

departmental lead of painting and mixed media conservation.

Carollane Leslie hails from a family of Italian artisans; her father (and grandfather) worked as a master engraver. Formally trained as an artist, Leslie earned her BFA in painting and illustration from Adelphi University on a full scholarship. Leslie is also an accomplished sculptor and multimedia installation artist. The depth and breath of her skill sets are unparalleled. Highly skilled in the conservation of paintings on virtually any substrate, Leslie is equally adept in object conservation. A mixed media master, Leslie has vast knowledge and experience working across all mediums and materials, ranging from wood and fiber to composites and glass. Throughout childhood and adolescence, Leslie was a competitive gymnast; her rigid and painful training at a Pre-Olympic level is what prompted her interest in the aesthetics of the human body and how they are explored in the visual arts. In addition to her important position at David Irving Studio, Leslie is also actively producing her own artwork, concentrating in performance and installation. Leslie’s artwork can be viewed at her artist’s URL: carolanneleslie.com

REBECCA ANTSIS

OPERATIONS; PROJECT MANAGER.

Born to two dissident Ukrainian artists, Antsis grew up immersed in the pedagogy, craft, and culture of the European Fine Arts tradition.  She is a seasoned production maven and team manager with over 15 years of experience.  At David Irving Studio, she oversees all stages of art handling, on-site coordination, timelines & execution, and administration. Multi-lingual, she speaks Russian, Spanish & French.  In her spare time, you can find her globally throwing pop-up herbal elixir bars and teaching classes in the herbalism-meets-hospitality sector. 

Ilon efron

Database management; Photography and new technologies.

Ilon Efron is the manager (and creator) of David Irving Studio’s client database. Efron is also our lead expert in the foremost new technologies. In addition to her important position at David Irving Studio, Efron is an archivist, gallerist, curator, editor and software designer. Starting in the early 90’s, Efron worked as a black and white printer and archivist for Annie Leibovitz. Opening Ilon and Company in 1996, her first clients included major artists such as David LaChapelle, Steven Klein Joel Meyerowitz and The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation. As the years progress, Efron’s client list continues to include the “greats” such as the Starn Brothers, Richard Gere, Alfred Wertheimer, Gilles Peress, Michel Comte, Philippe Halsman, Pamela Hansen, Bob Gruen and Roxanne Lowitt. For more on Efron’s amazing story, please visit her company URL: ilon.com.