Lynda Benglis (American/Louisiana, b. 1941), "Lion Paw", 1983/2015, cast pigmented acrylic, unsigned, edition 2 of 12 with 4 artist proofs, h. 13 1/4 in., w. 17 1/2 in., d. 16 1/2 in Provenance: Gift of the artist; Estate of Curator and Scholar and Advocate of Outsider and Contemporary Art Bill Fagaly, sold to benefit Prospect New Orleans' William A. Fagaly Memorial Fund for Social Impact. Condition: Light surface dirt; scattered surface scratches.Note: The form for “Lion Paw” derives from a maquette Benglis produced in preparation for her first fountain, “The Wave of the World”, currently installed in City Park, New Orleans.“I first met Bill in 1976, the bicentennial year, in New York where he had come to research the exhibition Five from Louisiana and we remained close ever since. He was my friend. Bill was very important. He put that show together very early. This was a real mark for me. He was one of the earliest serious curators I worked with. Bill just kind of got it! He was so intuitive and cocksure of himself. He always knew what he was doing. He was so natural in whatever he did – he was always learning. Bill was a lion! He was a force to be reckoned with because his knowledge was so broad.It always felt like a celebration to be with Bill in New Orleans. He had a curator’s eye. His place in the French Quarter was like a shell of wonder! It was very homey. It was almost like being on the stage but behind the curtain. His collection had great breadth, but it magically came together. He had talent for putting things together. He had a curator’s eye; his home was a museum.While Bill's operatic laugh will be heard no more, his accomplishments will live on. He achieved his dreams and helped many others see and realize their own.I gave ‘Lion Paw’ to Bill when he retired from the Prospect New Orleans Board and went to emeritus status. I thought it would be a meaningful way to commemorate his contribution to the city of New Orleans. I initially made the form of ‘Lion Paw’ as a study for ‘The Wave of the World’ for the 1984 Louisiana World Exposition. More recently, when I was restoring ‘The Wave of the World,’ now installed in City Park in New Orleans, I found the form again and cast it in acrylic.” ~ Lynda Benglis

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