Matt Mignanelli
Artist Statement
Aesthetic and process define my practice. Painted entirely free-hand, I am constantly challenging personal boundaries; striving for perfection, purity, and chance in my execution.
My work explores relationships between structure and nature, which I relay through the use of light and shadow cast upon architectural elements in limited palettes to create enigmatic and dynamic environments. The paintings are inspired by the industrial landscape and surfaces that envelop much of New York City. I aim to fully immerse the viewer within the work while altering the perception of dimensional space. The subtle variation of shapes in each painting creates areas of interruption within these environments. These visual breaks amongst the repetition create a movement that forces the eye to dance.
My approach to painting has evolved from subtle monochromes to working in a range of limited palettes that adhere to colors that are standard and utilitarian in nature. These are colors that surround us on a daily basis on mailboxes,dumpsters, poles, railings, doors, and fire alarms. That familiarity and reference within the urban landscape further connects the work to place, while not adding distraction. Through both palette and execution I am inspired by and reference utilitarian painting in my work. I am fascinated by the narrative that is told through the continually repainted subway station columns, doors, railings, and other items within the public sphere. The hand of the ever rotating laborer tasked with recoating, which is present on each surface and built upon coat after coat, tells a story much like the city itself. I strive to reference that narrative and capture a piece of that energy within each of my works.
Through the use of high gloss enamel and acrylic, I am examining the interactions amongst light and surface,allowing the resulting subtleties to highlight the materiality of the painting. These contrasting coatings allow me to develop a constantly evolving viewing experience within the physical environment where the work is viewed.
Hard-edge shapes are painted over gestural strokes, allowing for the hand to come through by the presence of small imperfections in the brush stroke. Chance enters into my paintings through the mode of execution; the works are all painted flat on a large table. As I move around the work painting in sections, the viscous enamel splashes and drips into the negative spaces as paint is repeatedly pulled from the container with a small brush. This spontaneity that emerges makes the paintings feel alive.
CV
Born 1983, Providence, RILives and works in New York, NY
2005
BFA, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI SELECTED SOLO AND TWO PERSON EXHIBITIONS
2019
Richard Heller Gallery, Los Angeles, CA (forthcoming)
2018
Galerie Clemens Gunzer, Zurich, CH (forthcoming)
2016
Matt Mignanelli – Johnny Abrahams, Two On Two, The Hole, New York, NY (catalogue)
2015
Grattan Street, LUCE Gallery, Torino, Italy
Matt Mignanelli – Russell Tyler, Between The Lines, Anonymous Gallery, Mexico City, Mexico
2014
Stories Unfold, Richard Heller Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2013
Nonstop, Dubner Moderne, Lausanne, Switzerland
Matt Mignanelli – Ryan Wallace, Bleecker Street Arts Club, New York, NY SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2017
Black Is Still The New Black, Collectors Depot, Pörtschach am Wörthersee, Austria
Highlight: New Canaan, Silvermine Arts Center, New Canaan, CT
BAM Art Auction, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn, NY
Lucky Draw, SculptureCenter, Queens, NY
Group Exhibition, Richard Heller Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2016
Viennacontemporary, Galerie Clemens Gunzer, Vienna, AT
Summer Time, Dubner Projects, Lugano, CH
Sequenced Perceptions, Galerie Clemens Gunzer, Zurich, CH
Got It For Cheap, David Risley Gallery, Copenhagen, DK
Face To Face: Selections from the Ernesto Esposito Collection, Palazzo Fruscione, Salerno, Italy (catalogue)
Art Los Angeles Contemporary, The Hole, Los Angeles, CA
2015
Scent curated by Young & Starving, Dickinson Roundell, New York, NY
Contemporary Istanbul, Dubner Moderne, Istanbul, Turkey
EXPO Chicago, Richard Heller Gallery, Chicago, IL
Black/White, Ameringer | McEnery | Yohe, New York, NY
Exposition Estivale, Dubner Moderne, Lausanne, Switzerland
Linear Abstraction, SCAD Museum of Art, Savannah, GA
2014
Inaugural Show, Regina Rex, New York, NY
EXPO Chicago, Richard Heller Gallery, Chicago, IL
Art Herning, Marianne Friis Gallery, Herning, Denmark
By Invitation Only curated by Mickalene Thomas & Ambre Kelly, Kinz + Tillou, Brooklyn, NY
Black/White, LaMontagne Gallery, Boston, MA
Miami Project, Richard Heller Gallery, Miami, FL
ARTWALK NY, 82 Mercer, New York, NY
Hard Edge Abstraction, GRAHAM, New York, NY
Nocturnes, Parallel Art Space, Brooklyn, NY
Contemporary Landscapes, Waterhouse & Dodd, New York, NY
July Group Show, Guerrero Gallery, San Francisco, CA
The Example, Bleecker Street Arts Club, New York, NY
New artists of the Gallery, Dubner Moderne, Lausanne, Switzerland
Spring/Break with Ballast Projects, Old School, New York, NY
Project Space, Quint Contemporary Art, San Diego, CA
Re:Define, Goss-Michael Foundation, Dallas, TX
New York – New Tendencies, Marianne Friis Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
Courtesy Roman Abramovich: The First Unveiling, Centotto, Brooklyn, NY AWARDS 2011 Artist Grant, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT RESIDENCIES
Artist in Residence, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT PUBLICATIONS 2017
TWO on TWO, Johnny Abrahams, Matt Mignanelli, Palma Blank, Russell Tyler, Forward by Kathy
2014
Stories Unfold, Matt Mignanelli, Softcover, 30 Pages, English, Edition of 30
2017
Akhmadbaev, Azamat. “Interview: Matt Mignanelli”, DONTPOSTME, January, 2017
2016
Nunes, Andrew. “7 Painters Somewhere Between Emerging and Blue Chip”, Creators Project, August 2017
“Inside Studio”, Aujourd’hui, December 15, 2015.
D’Agostino, Anna “Grattan Street architetture della metropoli”, La Repubblica, April 30, 2015.
Pezzini, Daniele. “Da Brooklyn a Torino, Matt Mignanelli alla Luce Gallery”, La Repubblica, April 23, 2015.
Lasane, Andrew. “Matt Mignanelli & Ryan Wallace Open at Bleecker Street Arts Club”, Complex
Gomez, Enrico. “Brooklyn During Armory Week”, Wagmag, March 4, 2013.Sutton, Benjamin. “Armory Week Show SPRING/BREAK Announces Artists and Curators”, ARTINFO,February 22, 2013.
Smylie, Jack. “Matt Mignanelli Studio Visit”, POST NEW, December 18, 2012.
Le Nart, Agniezki . “Matt Mignanelli wywiad”, Mixtape, September 13, 2012.
Loane, Rob. “Interview with Matt Mignanelli”, Fecal Face, July 11, 2012.
Davis, Noah. “Matt Mignanelli Talks Inspiration”, Complex Magazine, June 4, 2012.
“SPINDLES Exhibition”, VICE, May 4, 2012.
Bjørton, Hanne. “NY EVENT: Fredagskunst på Ama’r”, Amager Bladet, April 30, 2012.
Brask, Jens-Peter. “Matt Mignanelli – Studio Visit”, Brask Art, March 7, 2012