Leo

In Leo, Kopel Gurwin interprets the zodiac sign of the Lion through a bold, expressive figure whose commanding presence is tempered by playful stylization. At the center of the composition, a lion stands with its mouth open, its head raised and its tail curling upward. The animal’s distinctive posture and expansive mane evoke the strength and vitality traditionally associated with the sign, while its simplified anatomy gives the familiar emblem a highly individual character.

The lion’s body is constructed from contrasting fields of golden yellow, olive green, and bright lime, while its sweeping mane unfolds in overlapping shades of crimson, scarlet, and magenta. These warm, saturated colors emerge vividly against the deep black ground. The sharp transitions between individual felt shapes emphasize the animal’s silhouette, while the curved contours of its limbs and tail introduce a sense of movement into the otherwise balanced arrangement.

Surrounding the figure is an elaborate ornamental frame of interlocking foliate forms in emerald green, turquoise, violet, and deep blue. A continuous sequence of circular motifs in yellow, ochre, and green marks its outer edge, creating a rhythmic contrast with the lion’s angular features. The meticulously cut and layered felt, together with the visible stitching defining each shape, gives the composition its tactile precision. At the upper right, the Hebrew inscription Mazal Arye appears in bold crimson letterforms, integrated directly into the pictorial field.

As the astrological emblem of Leo, the lion has long been associated with courage, vitality, and authority. Gurwin translates these familiar qualities into a decorative language distinguished by vivid color, rhythmic ornament, and expressive form. The result balances the animal’s symbolic power with the warmth and inventiveness of the artist’s distinctive visual imagination.