Zuccaire Gallery Spotlights Works of Toby Buonagurio and Martin Levine

The work of Martin Levine (left) and Toby Buonagurio is featured in the latest Faculty Artist Spotlight at the Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery. Photos by John Griffin.

Two professors of studio art representing nearly nine decades at Stony Brook University are being honored with an exhibition of their work at the Paul W. Zuccaire Galleryin the Staller Center for the Arts.

Faculty Artist Spotlight: Toby Buonagurio and Martin Levine presents more than 40 works of ceramic sculpture, printmaking, drawing and painting created by two faculty who have had distinguished careers as artists. More than 100 people from the Stony Brook University community attended the exhibition's opening reception on February 5.

Buonagurio, a ceramic artist whose work incorporates whimsy and popular culture, has been teaching at Stony Brook for 50 years. Her vibrant ceramic sculpture has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions throughout the United States, France, Japan, the Netherlands, Germany, Taiwan and Macao, and has been acquired by several important collections.

Levine, recently retired after 39 years of teaching and now a Toll Professor, creates intricate prints primarily in etching and lithography, depicting realistically rendered cityscapes. His work has been shown in numerous international exhibitions and is in numerous significant public and private collections.

"Both Toby and Martin are longtime members of the Department of Art, have contributed significantly to decades of undergraduate and graduate student education, and have produced some amazing student artists as well," said Karen Levitov, director and curator of the Zuccaire Gallery. "It has been a pleasure to work with them both on putting this exhibition together."

Levitov also thanked university administrators who have supported the arts on campus, including Provost Carl Lejuez and David Wrobel, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

"This gallery, under Karen's stewardship and direction, has helped bring the arts to life at this university," said Wrobel. "Remember, we are a college of artsand sciences."

Wrobel provided attendees a snapshot of two influential Stony Brook careers.

"Collectively, these artists have devoted about 90 years to our students and our university," he said. "Toby's work is so incredibly vivid, compelling and captivating, and she's educated and inspired generations of our students. Martin's work, whether it's a mill or a barn or a cityscape, gives us an enriched sense of place. I feel like we have the privilege in this world to walk through the landscapes of other people's lives, and comprehend and appreciate those landscapes. Thank you both for your incredible work and contribution to Stony Brook."

From left: Zuccaire Gallery Director Karen Levitov, College of Arts and Sciences Dean David Wrobel, Toby Buonagurio and Martin Levine.

The two artists gave attendees a glimpse into their work and their Stony Brook experience.

"It's my pleasure to have my work displayed because I have taught here for so many years and this is a gorgeous gallery," said Buonagurio. "Karen is a genius at figuring out how to present such diverse works. This is my home away from home, and having my work here where my students can see it is really an honor."

"I've had teachers where all their students work look like theirs," said Levine. "They sort of emulate the faculty member. For that reason I purposely did not show a lot of my work. So this is the first time that these works are on the wall at Stony Brook, and I'm glad that I could share that. It's such an honor."

Levine said it was important to leave a lasting legacy of perspectives and moments that were unique to him.

"I'm trying to capture those moments and get a vantage point that nobody else would have, maybe driving down a road and stopping and taking a picture," he said. "I once stood in front of that image of the painting in Northern California, and it overwhelmed me. So I froze it in time, working with a small brush and painting every little mark on it. I'm glad I could share my years with you."

"I applaud everybody here who supports the arts through whatever means they can, including their presence at these exhibits," said Wrobel. "It's so wonderful to see a big crowd here enjoying this incredible exhibit and honoring the work of Stony Brook artists."

Faculty Artist Spotlight: Toby Buonagurio & Martin Levine is curated by Karen Levitov, director and curator, Zuccaire Gallery, and will be on view through February 26. Buonagurio will give a lunchtime talk on Wednesday, February 18. Martin Levine will give a lunchtime talk on Tuesday, February 24. Both talks will begin at 1 pm.

The 2026 Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery schedule is made possible by a generous grant from the Paul W. Zuccaire Foundation. Additional funding is provided by the Friends of Staller Center.

- Robert Emproto

Hours & Additional Information
Monday-Friday 12-4pm and evenings of Staller Centerperformances and films. For more information or to schedule a visit outside of regular hours, call the Zuccaire Gallery at (631) 632-7240 or email [email protected].