In 1964 I was born into a Slovak family that immigrated to Braddock Pennsylvania in the early 1900’s. They came to Braddock to work in or around Andrew Carnegie’s steel industry. The environmental turmoil and social tension of the Monongahela Valley is still present in me today!

After graduating with a BFA from Edinboro University in 1986 I took an apprenticeship with the Swiss artist Not Vital. We worked together in Italy, Switzerland, Egypt and New York City. To this day Not has remained an inspiration, mentor and friend. 

In the late 80’s and early 90’s several galleries in Europe and America established a following for my work which remains foundational to my practice.

This longevity is celebrated by 50th anniversaries for both Studio la Citta in Verona Italy and SperoneWestwater in New York City.

The underpinning for my research is our basic visual human perception. My hope is that the personal discovery that happens while I’m working transfers to the viewer as an optical conceptual event. An event that happens when the artwork enters the eye and goes to the brain. 

Emil Lukas, 2025