Dr. Jerome Levkov: Scientist and Artist
A Retrospective of Four Decades of Work | August 25 – October 18, 2025
NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Iona University is honored to present Dr. Jerome Levkov: Scientist and Artist, a retrospective exhibition celebrating the life and legacy of the late Dr. Jerome Levkov—an esteemed educator, accomplished chemist, and deeply thoughtful visual artist. The exhibition will be on view from August 25 through October 18, 2025, at the Brother Kenneth Chapman Gallery in the JoAnn Mazzella Murphy ’98H Arts Center.
A special closing reception will be held on Saturday, October 18 from noon to 3 p.m., offering the public an opportunity to reflect on Dr. Levkov’s remarkable contributions to both science and art and to experience his vibrant, expressive body of work.
Dr. Levkov earned his Ph.D. in chemistry and spent nearly four decades teaching at the collegiate level. Though his early life was rooted in scientific inquiry, his journey into the visual arts began later in life. Inspired by a formative high school visit to MoMA’s renowned The Family of Man photography exhibition, Dr. Levkov’s appreciation for the arts never left him. In his late forties, he began to sketch and paint—initially as a way to manage personal stress—and soon discovered a deep, enduring creative drive.
Working in pastel, pencil, watercolor, and ink, Dr. Levkov developed a practice that was at once observational, expressive, and deeply human. His subjects ranged from sweeping landscapes shaped by years of hiking, to the everyday poetry of New York City’s subways and neighborhoods. A longtime resident of Riverdale, NY, he drew inspiration from nature, community, and the people he encountered in daily life.
In his own words, Dr. Levkov once said, “Doing art has made me a more attentive observer of my environment, of people, nature, and situations. Turning an empty page into a story, feeling, or something interesting is quite satisfying and challenging.”
This retrospective brings together selections from over four decades of creative exploration, offering viewers a window into the rich intersection of science and art, observation and expression, intellect and intuition that defined Dr. Levkov’s life and work.
The exhibition and reception are free and open to the public.
Gallery Hours and Contact
Please visit our website for the most up to date information regarding gallery hours as they change each semester. For more information, please contact Beth Giacummo at bgiacummo@iona.edu.
ABOUT IONA UNIVERSITY COUNCIL ON THE ARTS
The Iona University Council on the Arts is dedicated to sponsoring artistic and cultural programs for the enrichment of the Iona University community, particularly the student body. With an endowment from the Baron Lambert Fund for the Arts, established by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph M. Murphy, the Council exists to make the arts more present and visible—providing the unique awareness, inspiration, and participation that the arts promote. Consisting of Iona University faculty, administrators, students, and alumni, the Council seeks to expand and deepen the cultural life of the campus community. In addition to public performances and conferences, the Council sponsors programs such as Art Quest trips designed to introduce the Iona community to the broader cultural richness of the region.
ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and an alumni base of 55,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona also continues to be recognized in prestigious national rankings. Most recently for 2025, Iona has been named one of the nation’s best colleges by The Princeton Review, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and others. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report recognized Iona as one of top for social mobility in the country, while Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) ranked an Iona degree in the top 6 percent nationally for long-term return on investment. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business, meanwhile, is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just 6 percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review once again named Iona to its “Best Business Schools for 2025,” recognizing both its on-campus and online MBA programs. In July 2021, Iona announced the establishment of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, which is now principally located on Iona’s Bronxville campus in collaboration with one of the nation’s top hospitals. Connecting to its Irish heritage, Iona also opened a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland, located on the historic 400-acre Westport House Estate. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.