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