Trash Talking

Trash Talking marks Leavitt’s first gallery show since 2016, when he last exhibited his work at Jonathan LeVine Gallery in New York City. In it, he reimagines the corner store, satirizing well known products by repurposing their packaging. Leavitt sourced the materials used in the exhibition from the dumpster of a gas station near his home, selecting each item for its specific cultural implications, most of it cardboard. He then constructed a series of precise replicas that throw a bright light on toxicity and waste: juice boxes made from oil, beer, and detergent cartons; an old-school pay phone from Apple packaging; a toddler’s Little Tikes Cozy Coupe from wood pallets; and more.   

Leavitt is best known for his action figures depicting Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Spike Lee, Andy Warhol, Bernie Sanders, and many other well-known public figures. Since he started to make cardboard shoes 20 years ago, they have since appeared in museums, galleries and shoe geek collections with teaching units, tutorials and how-to books now available for teachers, students, and DIY makers.