MATTHEW KOWALSKI GALLERY

Artist's Statement

“I create my Radical Relief art using found objects as a printing medium. Finding the objects I use is random and up to fate. I am driven by curiosity in my search for and discovery of these tools, society's discards. I get a great sense of satisfaction knowing that I am turning someone’s garbage into gold and making my small contribution to stopping the waste running amok in our world. It makes me feel good knowing that everything we need is here, all around us; we don’t need to make more.

“I love to see shapes layered on top of each other, knowing that beneath each form is a foundational layer. My goal is to make the one-dimensional objects on the surface come alive to the viewers, stimulating their creativity in their search for meaning.

“There is a random quality to the process I use when I create a piece of work, a kind of cacophony of form and color. Colors and shapes are my playground. My objects have their own peculiar shapes, and I play with them to create contrast in line and forms. I use painting, printing, projection, and reliefs to create my pieces. In the end, if I am successful, a kind of order emerges from the chaos.   
 
“In my current project, I am adding vivid brushed and airbrushed colors to the work so the printed shapes appear to crawl out of the compositions. I am self-taught, so I work on tuning my artistic machinery while the engine is running. This human is in motion! My work reflects my perspective of wonder; my desire to feel the solidity of objects, and my aspiration to create something beautiful.”

"I warmly invite you to my first show of the new year! Entitled "A Brand-New Day," I'll have around 25 original paintings, includng several new ones. Prints will also be available for sale. The show continues through February 24, 2011 at Conscious Collective, 4148 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, CA. Be sure and check out the show opening from 3-6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011! "

Artist’s Bio

Matthew Kowalski has created multi-media paintings in his Radical Relief style for the past 30 years. He is a certified addictions counselor and motivational speaker who has worked with recovering addicts in both clinical and 12-step settings for the past eleven years. A professional multi-instrument musician, Matt played drums and guitar and sang with dozens of bands in San Francisco in the 1980s and continues to seek opportunities to play in the East Bay. He and his wife, Kathryn Sterbenc, are proud Oakland residents.

Check our news page for current and upcoming exhibitions of Matt's work.

website: www.matthewkowalskiart.com