Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Mahler

Hi Matthew, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

Sure. I grew up in a household with teachers for parents. My father was actually a high school art teacher and there were always art materials available. From a young age, I instinctively used drawing as a means to combat boredom and nerves which eventually became a way for me to ground myself. I didn’t know it then, but all those hours formed the foundation of my committed studio practice today.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

Smooth in the sense that I’ve always prioritized time to make “something”, not necessarily always “Art”, but if you mean clear or direct, no.

I’ve experienced many challenges to making art; the obvious being income, and of course time, but there’s also the challenge of creating authentic work. I’ve always strung multiple jobs together to afford my time in the studio to make what I “want/need to see”, rather than what I feel pressure to make. The high cost of living and life’s responsibilities, coupled with a willingness to experiment and go off on tangents when compelled, present challenges that one could never totally plan for. I teach art to students ranging in age, which though rewarding, requires a great deal of time and focus, at least to be halfway decent, and that time is borrowed from time that might otherwise be dedicated to the studio. A constant curiosity to explore materials or historical tropes could potentially dissuade potential collectors or dealers, but I’ve learned I can’t be “good” unless I’m being honest.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?

Absolutely! I make art, paintings primarily, that are focused on investigating my personal experience in what I believe to be a very strange time in human history. I’m sure there have been many of these throughout time, but speaking about this moment, my work is a place where I can process this existence. While I acknowledge how minuscule my existence is within the greater scope of time, I do think there is currently a very interesting sharing of ideas and emotions taking place and attempt to use my work as a platform for exploration and my own comprehension.

What am I known for? Probably mostly for making paintings that appear abstract in nature. My work typically references recognizable painting tropes from throughout art history as a way of engaging with the past while I hope to put a modern spin on things. What I hope to be recognized for is finding something new worth examining within the expansive canon of art history. Realistically, I hope to foster a sense of curiosity and close observation in the work I create. For me, interesting work is multifaceted and can’t often easily be described or defined which is ultimately what I strive to create.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?

I’d say most would describe me as having been shy and reserved, but curious and probably intense. If I took an interest, I explored it fully. I was a conscientious student and a responsible older brother.

I spent a lot of time entertaining myself. A child in the late 1980’s/early 90’s, I had a pretty analog childhood: limited access to technology and digital stimulus led to frequent spells of boredom. This said I think back on my childhood fondly and am extremely grateful for having the space and time to get lost in a safe environment.

My childhood home was surrounded by farm fields and woods, so there was a lot of exploring to be done and forts and bike jumps to build. As I got older I committed to playing sports, first basketball and then lacrosse became my main focus. It was my identity and I was a real “jock”. I practiced all the time. Lacrosse was really popular on Long Island (it still is) and without an older brother to coach me, I had to put in the time on my own if I wanted to improve. I did and I eventually became the captain of my team for multiple seasons. I think I demonstrated leadership qualities early on and was disciplined. I really loved playing, but around Junior year, right about the time that colleges were recruiting, my interests began to shift; I wanted to surf and skateboard more, listen to music and make art in my spare time rather than spend all of my extra time on the lacrosse field. I eventually quit the team, shifting my attention to making art, got a few part-time jobs and started on the path that I’ve been on for the past 25 years.

I still find it strange how we expect young people to be able to make decisions about their future at such an early age; the idea that we pressure adolescents or even younger children to be able to choose something they’d like to focus their attention on so it will hopefully carry them to college and sometimes even beyond seems like such an overwhelming task. This said, I kind of knew that being creative was going to play an important role in my life from early on. First I think I had instincts and some basic skills which led to praise from my teachers and peers. I also really just liked doing it. A naturally anxious person drawing and painting always had a way of calming me down.

Pricing:

• Works on Paper – $500+
• Works on Burlap – $2000+

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.MatthewJMahler.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matthewjmahler/