Based in New York, Matthew Casanovas is an artist specializing in painting, skillfully weaving storytelling through the materials and techniques of the old masters. Drawing from folklore, sentimental memories, and contemporary stories, his work tends to defy easy classification and achieves a timeless quality that resonates deeply across varied mediums.
Incorporating childhood passions such as skateboarding, Matthew captures dynamic movements and “stills”, often reminiscent of images seen through a paused vintage digital camcorder. His use of traditional mediums like egg tempera and handmade chalk gesso grounds adds an ethereal dimension to his pieces, fostering a unique bond between the artist and his artworks.
His paintings often evoke a sense of yearning, inviting viewers to engage in cryptic narratives that access personal histories. With a sense of naivety and ample room for interpretation, Matthew's art serves as a catalyst for connection, encouraging viewers to share their experiences and emotions around the metaphorical campfire of his compositions.
Matthew aims to create art that not only sparks individual interpretations but also fosters connections and shared experiences among viewers. Through his work, he seeks to evoke feelings of childhood wonder and bewilderment, ultimately contributing to larger societal conversations and themes through the diverse stories woven within each piece.
CV
Solo
2022 Untitled Solo Exhibition Nyack Library, Nyack NY
2021 Funny Seeing You Here Untitled Project, Nyack NY
Group
2024 61st Annual Juried Competition Masur Museum of Art, Monroe LA
2023 Used: Juried Exhibition Attleboro Arts Museum, Attleboro MA
2023 Meltdown III Limner Gallery, Hudson NY
2023 Biennial Show Museum of Wild and Newfangled Art, NYC
2023 New Voices: Rockland's Next Art Generation Rockland Center for the Arts, West Nyack NY
2022 Small Works: Juried Exhibition Main Street Arts, Clifton NY
2022 Members Show Garner Arts Center, Garnerville NY
2021 Members Show Garner Arts Center, Garnerville NY
2018 Spring Undergraduate Exhibition School of the Arts Institute of Chicago, Chicago IL
2017 Dogs School of the Arts Institute of Chicago Case Gallery, Chicago IL
2016 Oneness Siragusa Gallery, Chicago IL
Publications & Awards
2024 Third Place, 61st Annual Juried Competition Masur Museum of Art, Monroe LA
2023 July/August Cover Artwork for Artscope Magazine, New England
Other
2016 Pigface 25th Anniversary Show Artwork for House of Blues, Chicago IL
2015 Somebody to Love by Josh Jordan, Brooklyn NY
2009 Henry Hudson Quadricentennial Mural New City NY
2018 Bachelors in Fine Arts, School of the Arts Institute of Chicago, Chicago IL
2016 Fine Arts Studies, Montclair State University, Montclair NJ
2015 Associates in Fine Arts, Rockland Community College, Suffern NY