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Artist Statement
My ambitions as an artist are informed by a childhood spent assisting my parents; both of whom are commercial artists specializing in decorative painting, murals and faux finishes. They produce commissioned art for an aspirational suburban community. I grew up learning how to make forgeries; we faked marble, faked antiques, faked pastoral scenes in countless formal dining rooms across the Tri-State area. Decorative painting is one of the lower rungs on the art ladder; working in the decorative arts has given me a tongue in cheek attitude towards both high and low culture, and the experience has deeply informed my work.
My work is primarily sculpture based. Each sculpture begins with a drawing; I use a sketchbook as a drawing diary, and experiment with narrative scenes influenced by urban mythology, daydreaming, jokes and fantasies. I have been deeply inspired by contemporary sculptors working with low materials/ humor. Tom Freidman, Ryan Johnson, David Altmejd, Phoebe Washburn, Maurizio Cattelan, Nate Lowman, and Dan Colen have all been invaluable resources and have informed my work. I create objects and environments that feel dreamlike, fictional; familiar yet simultaneously other. I envision my sculptures as dis-used props, set dressings, stills from an imaginary film; shadow selves. They are meant to be amusing.
This body of work was constructed using a limited palette of commercially manufactured colored paper. I seek to flatten the visual plane; to combine painterly and sculptural space, and push the sculptures into a cartoon-like, alternate reality. The large scale figurative sculptures are built with a focus on pattern and repetition. If you look closely, the entire under-structure is composed of hundreds of .5- 3” coils of paper. The coils are intricately glued together, like a magnified, simplified, aesthetically organized cellular structure. My focus is evenly split between the aesthetics of construction, and the narrative of the piece. The objects depicted in my "readymade" pieces are easily recognizable artifacts of the western world. I construct handmade fascilmiles of trash, prepackaged foods, houseplants, and commercial detritus. These sculptures are anchors for the more surrealist body-based pieces; they are an entryway into my work for the viewer. The objects are not especially iconic on their own, but between their commercial legacy, their specific arrangement within the sculpture and the viewers' personal history, they begin to tell a story.
I received my BFA from the School of Visual Arts in 2005. The years following graduation have been highly productive. I moved my studio practice to Brooklyn where I founded and currently manage a large studio collective. I created a body of work that has been featured in solo and group exhibitions to critical acclaim, and I was selected from among thousands of artists to compete on the internationally syndicated Bravo reality television series "Work of Art, The Next Great Artist". I supported myself during this time by assisting esteemed artists and galleries including Josephine Meckseper, Marilyn Minter, Zach Feuer Gallery and Elizabeth Dee Gallery. Most recently, I was awarded a lengthy residency at Yaddo, which I am currently attending.
My ambitions as an artist are informed by a childhood spent assisting my parents; both of whom are commercial artists specializing in decorative painting, murals and faux finishes. They produce commissioned art for an aspirational suburban community. I grew up learning how to make forgeries; we faked marble, faked antiques, faked pastoral scenes in countless formal dining rooms across the Tri-State area. Decorative painting is one of the lower rungs on the art ladder; working in the decorative arts has given me a tongue in cheek attitude towards both high and low culture, and the experience has deeply informed my work.
My work is primarily sculpture based. Each sculpture begins with a drawing; I use a sketchbook as a drawing diary, and experiment with narrative scenes influenced by urban mythology, daydreaming, jokes and fantasies. I have been deeply inspired by contemporary sculptors working with low materials/ humor. Tom Freidman, Ryan Johnson, David Altmejd, Phoebe Washburn, Maurizio Cattelan, Nate Lowman, and Dan Colen have all been invaluable resources and have informed my work. I create objects and environments that feel dreamlike, fictional; familiar yet simultaneously other. I envision my sculptures as dis-used props, set dressings, stills from an imaginary film; shadow selves. They are meant to be amusing.
This body of work was constructed using a limited palette of commercially manufactured colored paper. I seek to flatten the visual plane; to combine painterly and sculptural space, and push the sculptures into a cartoon-like, alternate reality. The large scale figurative sculptures are built with a focus on pattern and repetition. If you look closely, the entire under-structure is composed of hundreds of .5- 3” coils of paper. The coils are intricately glued together, like a magnified, simplified, aesthetically organized cellular structure. My focus is evenly split between the aesthetics of construction, and the narrative of the piece. The objects depicted in my "readymade" pieces are easily recognizable artifacts of the western world. I construct handmade fascilmiles of trash, prepackaged foods, houseplants, and commercial detritus. These sculptures are anchors for the more surrealist body-based pieces; they are an entryway into my work for the viewer. The objects are not especially iconic on their own, but between their commercial legacy, their specific arrangement within the sculpture and the viewers' personal history, they begin to tell a story.
I received my BFA from the School of Visual Arts in 2005. The years following graduation have been highly productive. I moved my studio practice to Brooklyn where I founded and currently manage a large studio collective. I created a body of work that has been featured in solo and group exhibitions to critical acclaim, and I was selected from among thousands of artists to compete on the internationally syndicated Bravo reality television series "Work of Art, The Next Great Artist". I supported myself during this time by assisting esteemed artists and galleries including Josephine Meckseper, Marilyn Minter, Zach Feuer Gallery and Elizabeth Dee Gallery. Most recently, I was awarded a lengthy residency at Yaddo, which I am currently attending.
CV
Michelle Matson
B. 1981
Lives & works in Brooklyn, NY
Education
2005 BFA School of Visual Arts
Awards/Grants
2002-2005 Silas H. Rhodes Merit Scholarship, School of Visual Arts
2012-2013 YADDO Artist Residency, Saratoga Springs, NY
Travel/Research
2004 Painting Abroad Program- via The School of Visual Arts, Barcelona, Spain
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2012 "Cactus Milk", Youth Group Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2012 "Rise", Pleats Please, Issey Miyake, New York, Organized by Robert Von Leszczynski
2005 Untitled, Kantor/Feuer Project Space, New York 2005 "Cabin Fever", School of Visual Arts: Westside Gallery, New York
Mass Media Exhibitions
2011 Contestant on Bravo Television Network "Work of Art: The Next Great Artist", Season 2, International syndication
Selected Group Exhibitions
2012 Seven Miami, Postmasters Gallery, Miami, FL
2012 "Blankland", Torrance Art Museum, Los Angeles, CA
2012 "Itsa Small Small World", Family Business Gallery, New York, NY, Organized by Hennessey Youngman
2011 "Colorific! We Make an Art Rainbow", Postmasters, New York, Organized by Paulina Bebecka
2011 " Paperwork", Kravets Wehby Gallery, New York, Curated by Nina Chanel Abney
2011 "The Perfumed Hankerchief", Flux Factory, Queens, NY, Curated by Alison Ward
2010 "Works on Paper", Garfo Art Center, Salt Lake City, UT
2010 "Never Can Say Goodbye", Former Tower Records Building, New York, Created by No Longer Empty
2009 "Don't Flee the Art Market", Postmasters, New York, Curated by Paulina Bebecka
2009 "Extra Extra", China Art Objects, Los Angeles, CA
2007 "Congregation", 54 Crosby, New York, NY
2006 "Six Degrees of Separation", Stux Gallery, New York, NY 2006 " Studio Visit", Exit Art, New York, NY
Selected Press/ Publications
2012 "Hit List, Things We Like", Modern Painters, June 2012
2012 "Michelle Matson's Cut Paper Figures", Amir, Beautiful/Decay, May 2, 2012
2011 "Show of Support, Seven Miami", Marina Cashdan, New York Times Style Magazine, December 2, 2011
2011 "Inhabitat's Top Eco Art Picks from Art Basel Week in Miami", Lori Zimmer, December 6, 2011
2011 Work of Art Recap: How I Helped Rob an Artist", Jerry Saltz, NYMAG.com, December 15, 2011
2011 "Work of Art Recap: Elimination Heartbreak", Jerry Saltz, NYMAG.COM, December 1, 2011
2011 "Work of Art Recap: Art Girls (and Boys) Gone Wild!", Jerry Saltz, NYMAG.COM, November 17, 2011
2011 "Work of Art Recap: Jerry Saltz Shows Art Apprecuation on a Gut Level", Jerry Saltz, NYMAG.COM, October 20, 2011
2011 "Work of Art Recap: Jerry Saltz Is Back Recapping His Own Reality Show", Jerry Saltz, NYMAG.COM, October 13, 2011
2011 "Work of Art: Epizode One," Schlock Art'", Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn, huffingtonpost.com, October 13, 2011
2011 "Work of Art Episode One: Kitsch or Ditch", Paddy Johnson, ARTFAGCITY.COM, October 13, 2011
2011 "AFC's Work of Art Season Two Supplementary Program Guide", Paddy Johnson, ARTFAGCITY.COM, October 12, 2011 2011 Village Voice "Michelle Matson, VOICE Cover Sorty Bike-Accident Victim, Will Be On Reality TV" By Camille Dodero, September 6, 2011
2011 Village Voice "Anatomy of A Greenpoint Bike Accident" By Camille Dodero, August 17, 2011
2009 Hands On: Heavy Petting, Issue I
Work Experience
2007-present Studio Manager Marilyn Minter
I coordinate and manage daily operations at Marilyn Minter Studio. I facilitate all national and international correspondence between galleries, museums, collectors, press, educational facilities and the studio. I create and maintain all art archives, press archives and the website. Additional skills include proficiency in Photoshop, Final Cut, Illustrator, Excel, Flash, Microsoft Office, Quickbooks (Proficient in Mac and PC platforms)
2005-2007 Studio Manager Josephine Meckseper
I coordinated and managed all operations at Josephine Meckseper Studio. I facilitated national and international correspondence between galleries, museums, collectors, press, educational facilities and the studio. I created & updated all archives.
2004-2005 Gallery Assistant, Elizabeth Dee Gallery
I answered phones/email, provided press and research resources to public, maintained artist archives, assisted with client relations, assisted with exhibition installation & works storage.
2004 Intern, Zach Feuer Gallery
I answered phones/email, provided press and research resources to public, maintained artist archives, assisted with client relations, assisted with exhibition installation & works storage.
Michelle Matson
B. 1981
Lives & works in Brooklyn, NY
Education
2005 BFA School of Visual Arts
Awards/Grants
2002-2005 Silas H. Rhodes Merit Scholarship, School of Visual Arts
2012-2013 YADDO Artist Residency, Saratoga Springs, NY
Travel/Research
2004 Painting Abroad Program- via The School of Visual Arts, Barcelona, Spain
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2012 "Cactus Milk", Youth Group Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2012 "Rise", Pleats Please, Issey Miyake, New York, Organized by Robert Von Leszczynski
2005 Untitled, Kantor/Feuer Project Space, New York 2005 "Cabin Fever", School of Visual Arts: Westside Gallery, New York
Mass Media Exhibitions
2011 Contestant on Bravo Television Network "Work of Art: The Next Great Artist", Season 2, International syndication
Selected Group Exhibitions
2012 Seven Miami, Postmasters Gallery, Miami, FL
2012 "Blankland", Torrance Art Museum, Los Angeles, CA
2012 "Itsa Small Small World", Family Business Gallery, New York, NY, Organized by Hennessey Youngman
2011 "Colorific! We Make an Art Rainbow", Postmasters, New York, Organized by Paulina Bebecka
2011 " Paperwork", Kravets Wehby Gallery, New York, Curated by Nina Chanel Abney
2011 "The Perfumed Hankerchief", Flux Factory, Queens, NY, Curated by Alison Ward
2010 "Works on Paper", Garfo Art Center, Salt Lake City, UT
2010 "Never Can Say Goodbye", Former Tower Records Building, New York, Created by No Longer Empty
2009 "Don't Flee the Art Market", Postmasters, New York, Curated by Paulina Bebecka
2009 "Extra Extra", China Art Objects, Los Angeles, CA
2007 "Congregation", 54 Crosby, New York, NY
2006 "Six Degrees of Separation", Stux Gallery, New York, NY 2006 " Studio Visit", Exit Art, New York, NY
Selected Press/ Publications
2012 "Hit List, Things We Like", Modern Painters, June 2012
2012 "Michelle Matson's Cut Paper Figures", Amir, Beautiful/Decay, May 2, 2012
2011 "Show of Support, Seven Miami", Marina Cashdan, New York Times Style Magazine, December 2, 2011
2011 "Inhabitat's Top Eco Art Picks from Art Basel Week in Miami", Lori Zimmer, December 6, 2011
2011 Work of Art Recap: How I Helped Rob an Artist", Jerry Saltz, NYMAG.com, December 15, 2011
2011 "Work of Art Recap: Elimination Heartbreak", Jerry Saltz, NYMAG.COM, December 1, 2011
2011 "Work of Art Recap: Art Girls (and Boys) Gone Wild!", Jerry Saltz, NYMAG.COM, November 17, 2011
2011 "Work of Art Recap: Jerry Saltz Shows Art Apprecuation on a Gut Level", Jerry Saltz, NYMAG.COM, October 20, 2011
2011 "Work of Art Recap: Jerry Saltz Is Back Recapping His Own Reality Show", Jerry Saltz, NYMAG.COM, October 13, 2011
2011 "Work of Art: Epizode One," Schlock Art'", Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn, huffingtonpost.com, October 13, 2011
2011 "Work of Art Episode One: Kitsch or Ditch", Paddy Johnson, ARTFAGCITY.COM, October 13, 2011
2011 "AFC's Work of Art Season Two Supplementary Program Guide", Paddy Johnson, ARTFAGCITY.COM, October 12, 2011 2011 Village Voice "Michelle Matson, VOICE Cover Sorty Bike-Accident Victim, Will Be On Reality TV" By Camille Dodero, September 6, 2011
2011 Village Voice "Anatomy of A Greenpoint Bike Accident" By Camille Dodero, August 17, 2011
2009 Hands On: Heavy Petting, Issue I
Work Experience
2007-present Studio Manager Marilyn Minter
I coordinate and manage daily operations at Marilyn Minter Studio. I facilitate all national and international correspondence between galleries, museums, collectors, press, educational facilities and the studio. I create and maintain all art archives, press archives and the website. Additional skills include proficiency in Photoshop, Final Cut, Illustrator, Excel, Flash, Microsoft Office, Quickbooks (Proficient in Mac and PC platforms)
2005-2007 Studio Manager Josephine Meckseper
I coordinated and managed all operations at Josephine Meckseper Studio. I facilitated national and international correspondence between galleries, museums, collectors, press, educational facilities and the studio. I created & updated all archives.
2004-2005 Gallery Assistant, Elizabeth Dee Gallery
I answered phones/email, provided press and research resources to public, maintained artist archives, assisted with client relations, assisted with exhibition installation & works storage.
2004 Intern, Zach Feuer Gallery
I answered phones/email, provided press and research resources to public, maintained artist archives, assisted with client relations, assisted with exhibition installation & works storage.
Reverse Ejaculation, 2012, oil on canvas, acid free colored paper, wood, glue, 80 x 120 x 72” (dimensions variable)
Stock Still, 2012, cement, wood, acid free colored paper, glue, 72 x 72 x 60” (dimensions variable)
Mouseketeer Melon, 2012, styrofoam, plaster, acid free colored paper, glue, watercolours, 18 x 13 x 12”
Baker Melon, 2012, styrofoam, plaster, acid free colored paper, glue, watercolours, 15 x 12 x 12”
Permanent Slag, 2012, concrete, styrofoam, plaster, acid free colored paper, glue, watercolours, 30 x 48 x 24”
Permanent Paz, 2012, concrete, styrofoam, plaster, acid free colored paper, glue, watercolours, 30 x 30 x 24”
Permanent Smiley, 2012, concrete, styrofoam, plaster, acid free colored paper, glue, watercolours, 15 x 30 x 24”
Dead Head, 2012, plexiglass, acid free colored paper, glue, cactus, 24 x 12 x 12”
Murder She Wrote, 2010, acid free colored paper, glue, 18 x 48 x 48” (dimensions variable)
The Pool Boy, 2010, oil on canvas, acid free colored paper, glue, 30 x 30 x 20”
The Idealist, 2010, oil on canvas, acid free colored paper, glue, 30 x 30 x 20”
The Babe, 2010, oil on canvas, acid free colored paper, glue, 30 x 30 x 20”
Rolling Thunder, 2009, acid free colored paper, wood, glue, monofilament, 60 x 120 x 72” (dimensions variable)