A Contemporary Modernist, Abstract Even Impressionistic

 "Life is an ever-expanding evolution that has twist and turns with some up and some downs. My artwork is a direct reflection of the life process that never stays the same and is always evolving into new styles, mediums, and techniques"

--Matt Roe

"Yang" - acrylics by Matt Roe

"Yin" - acrylics - by Matt Roe

There is one thing that no one truly knows about Matt and his work....they both go beyond life's process.  Yes, we believe life's process is filled with twists and turns and ups and downs but there are so many different philosophies that no one person can say that theirs is the correct one, because no matter how it is said..."go with the flow" "Footprints in the Sand" "It was meant to be" "Que Serra Serra (what will be will be)" "Don't go the way the crow flies, can you imagine how boring your life would be if you had" "Let it be" "Order comes out of chaos" (for sure there are more sayings)...when it comes down to it, the meanings are all the same.

"Mind's Eye" - by Matt Roe



But you see, Matt goes further, he goes beyond this process. It is as if he has an "All Seeing Eye" looking into our "Mind's Eye" to a surreal world, another plane if you will that no one else sees. He can perhaps be called a Contemporary Abstract Surreal Modernist that leans to Impressionism - quite unique wouldn't you say? Not everyone can blend so many different flavors of art to create such master pieces.   

"School of Fish"
acrylics
by Mat Roe

Some critics have stated he is like Jackson Pollack, but one very astute New York art critic caught the essence "behind the scenes" so to speak and saw the the subtle movement that added to his paint drizzles making them swirl around more, move in a rotating manner in one particular painting. The ever so gentle push can be seen, nudging the foreground subjects to begin a dance on the canvas or board or metal or whatever was the palate for the day.

Matt's Dr. Suess inspiration in many of his works exemplify his ability to make art look as if it's child's play, maybe that is why so many are attracted to viewing or buying his work...does he bring the inner child out of each of us?

Even so, the impressionism he exudes in other works brings you back to time when a French art critic with a tongue-in-cheek explanation mocking the new wave of painters and their works as Impressionist.  You see characteristics of Impressionist paintings include relatively small, thin, yet visible brush strokes; open composition; emphasis on accurate depiction of light in its changing qualities (often accentuating the effects of the passage of time); common, ordinary subject matter; the inclusion of "movement" as a crucial element of human perception and experience; and unusual visual angles. All of these things are harbored in Matt's works. Funny isn't that what the NY critic said about Matt's work "the movement in the backgournd"? This only lends us to his ability to cross all these styles to create surreal artwork that takes us a step beyond. Surreal, unlike Dali's work, but yet a bit serendipitous in a way since he doesn't even realize how he captured the style without even trying to connecting all five styles creating his own. Quite incredible one would say!

And in the end, in order for Matt to take us beyond life's process he, himself, must go with the flow to understand Footprints in the Sand, knowing it was meant to be, and will never fly as the crow flies nor will he take for granted what will be, will be (Que Serra Serra) because he will let it be so that we all can see order come out of chaos...

You have to see Matt's work.  His work will be on display from June 1st until June 30th...His opening reception is Thursday, June 21st from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm....tying in with June's Art Stroll that begins at 6:00 pm at Firehouse Gallery!!!