Matt Davis
Matt Davis’s recent work involves photographic elements (often found, gifted, or stolen) used to produce collage objects. The work investigates the nature of image creation, deconstruction, and re-construction as it relates to the individual’s desire to capture and leave a trace. Within this framework, concepts of dislocation, transience, and mortality are explored. Matt Davis’s work investigates ideas of techno-fantasy in relation to modern man’s fascination with digital media, video and film special effects. Chroma-key backdrop special effects paint and no-seam back-drop paper are often incorporated into the collages. Recent collages, drawings, and paintings attempt to represent the un-represent able. Many of the works depict technologically influenced “out of body” experiences, and ghost-like images. The works often incorporate illustrations of figures in relation to infinite space, “the void”, and vortexes. Matt Davis’s work is heavily influenced by science fiction/fantasy/horror film and literature, comic books, as well as minimalism. The artist’s practice interweaves photography, image collection, image manipulation (manually and digitally), and collage techniques to produce a wide variety of objects varying in material composition and scale.
Education
University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
Master of Fine Arts: Studio Arts. (2008)
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL
Bachelor of Fine Arts: Painting.
Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL
Walt Disney World College Program Internship, Orlando, FL 1993
Honors and Awards
2006 Larsen Research Assistantship Award, School of Art and Design,
University of Illinois, Chicago, IL
1997 Outstanding Senior in Painting, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL
Finalist, The James R. and Dorthy E. Shipley Award for Outstanding Student Art and Design, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL
1996 Art and Design Scholarship in Painting, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL
1995 First Place, Graphic Illustration, The Chicago Tribune and Illinois College Press Association
First Place, Art Illustartion, Columbia Scholatic Press Association
Art and Design Scholarship in Painting, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL
1994 Honorable Mention, Eastern Illinois University Student Exhibition,
Charleston, IL
1992 Talented Student Award in Fine Arts, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL
Art Department Scholarship, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL
Exhibitions
2006 Night of 1,000 Drawings, Artist Space, New York, NY
2006 Mad, Bad, & Street Legal, Open End Gallery, Chicago, IL
2005 12-Group Show @ April Sevens Gallery, Chicago, IL
2005 12-Group Show @ 1417 Wood St. Gallery, Chicago, IL
2002 Glamour, Excitement, Power & Money, Gallery on Lake Judith Racht, Chicago,IL
2000 Absolute Vision 2000, Zolla Lieberman Gallery, Chicago, IL
2000 Terry Dowd Inc. Group Show, Columbia College Art Gallery, Chicago, IL
2000 Test Site at The Congress Theater: A Performance and Installation Art Event, The Congress Theater, Chicago, IL
1999 Serious Play, The Ukranian Institute of Modern Art, Chicago, IL
1999 Narrating the Temporary, The Butcher Shop Gallery, Chicago, IL
1998 Test Site: Installation and Performance Art in a Former Food Processing Plant, F&M Meat Products, Chicago, IL
1998 Cross Currents: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign & Glasgow School of Art Scotland, Scotland Exchange Exhibition, I-Space Galery, Chicago,IL
(Traveled to Glasgow School of Art, Scotland)
1997 Student Exchange Exhibition, University of Vera Cruz, Vera Cruz, Mexico
Installation 180 x 120 x 120 inches & 20 lbs.
Painting 12 x 12 inches
Drawing 16 x 20 inches
Painting 9 x 12 inches
Painting 13 x 18 inches
Painting 12 x 12 inches
by artist Adam Simon
and commissioned by
All artworks copyright by their respective owners.