William Leavitt, "Space Junk"

Born in 1941, Leavitt has enjoyed a long career in Los Angeles, but his exposure in New York has been limited. He showed here at Artists Space in 1979, when it was under the directorship of Helene Winer, and again in 1981 at Metro Pictures, shortly after Winer opened the gallery with partner Janelle Reiring. This exhibit is his first in New York since then. Leavitt is known for sculptural tableaux, often created with furnishings and decor items that seem cast off from some alternative universe of midcentury motels and industrial-park office buildings. They are cool and very L.A. in a Twilight Zone kind of way.