Zachary Heath Stadel passed away on Thursday, April 22, 2022, in Alhambra, California; he was 43. A memorial exhibition on Saturday June 18, from 5-8:00 PM. at 530 North Western, Los Angeles, CA, 90004. Proceeds from the sales of Zack’s artwork will go to the JED foundation for suicide prevention.

Zack’s artwork played with the intersection of conceptual art and craft, often incorporating woodworking. His practice included painting, photographic interventions, marquetry and a variety of experimental media. Zack was a scientist of forms, meticulously de-constructing materials in order to transform their meaning and presumed essential qualities. Under his hand, a painting support structure became a surface, an archival erotic photo became a fragmented portrait of sweatsocks, and dryer lint encased in resin became crystalline quartz. His work was technical and yet somehow maintained a whimsical beauty. Zack showed his work in exhibitions at many different venues such as, See Line Gallery, New Theme Gallery, Cheim & Reid and Curatorial Hub. In 2014 his work appeared at the Hammer Museum as a part of  Alice Könitz’s installation in the Made In LA biennial featuring Los Angeles artists.

Untitled, Heatsleeve, 2008

Zack worked as an assistant to some of Los Angeles’ most famous artists as an employee of Chuck Arnoldi studios and as a master crate builder at Black Widow Fine Art services. He also belonged to a remarkable cohort of Art Center College of Designs graduate students as a long-time shop technician on campus after graduating with his M.F.A.in 2004.

I reached out to a few artists who knew Zack and asked them to capture his spirit and personality in a few sentences.

“Years ago, Zack was my studio assistant.  He was one of the best people I’ve ever worked with.  A real straight shooter, he was smarter than just about everyone and so genuinely enthusiastic about art and life.   The guy showed up every day with this amazing energy.  And his energy was infectious.  I loved having him in the studio.  He had a boundless curiosity and he often asked questions that would prompt really interesting conversations.  He was a very serious artist with a unique perspective., and he had a lot to say.  When our kids were young teenagers, Zack went on a river rafting trip down the Salmon River with our family.  He was so playful and fun loving and kind.  It was a weeklong trip filled with food fights and practical jokes and a lot of laughter.  I loved that childlike side of him.  He was just so much fun. I didn’t know that he suffered from depression.  He hid it so well.  I suspect that was because he didn’t want to burden others, or maybe he just didn’t want anyone to see that side of him.  I wish I had known.  Zack really enriched my life and I’m so sorry that he’s gone. “ – Chuck and Katie Arnoldi

“From real estate to the cosmos, Zack had an answer for all of my questions. I would spend many weekend afternoons just picking his brain about craftsmanship, science, memes, politics, anything, he would always have something to say. You don’t meet a lot of people like that, and I adored that about Zack.

Zack was a maker at heart and sympathetic to a fellow craftsperson trying to come up in the business. I really appreciate Zack for being a good friend. He was very serious, but had a good sense of humor. He was not pretentious and he had an open mind. I think about him a lot and miss him.” – Michael Rey

Zachary Stadel, “Heat Sleeve,” 2008.