Matthew Best

I have three new drawings in the upcoming show, The New Aesthetic at Gallery 19 (http://www.gallery19chicago.com/)  in Chicago opening in May. I will be featured in a second show at the same gallery in June. I'm very excited to be showing at this exciting new gallery. I will be traveling to Chicago for both openings.

The show runs from May 10 to June 7 with an opening reception on May 10, 6:30-10pm. Hope to see you there.

Radiate, 2012. 22 by 30 inches. Ink on paper.

I'm be taking part in CT Artlist's newest pop-up exhibition, CT ArtList and The Mill present "A Crew In Interest (Accruing Interest)" - A Pop-Up Exhibition 4/26/2013 FRIDAY 7PM

ONE NIGHT ONLY!
ARTISTS SET-UP WORK THAT NIGHT AND TAKE IT HOME THAT NIGHT AFTER THE NIGHT IS DONE.
ONE CHANCE TO SEE GREAT ART AND MEET COOL PEOPLE!
ONE CHANCE TO ROCK OUT TO SOME GREAT MUSIC!
DON'T MISS OUT!

Presented by The Mill at Trinity College and CT ArtList.

Artists from CT ArtList's Image Bank (http://www.ctartlist.com/artists.html)

Featuring Live Musical Performances from:

•Obiwon Kenobe Bryant
https://soundcloud.com/okenobebryant

•Old Gold
https://soundcloud.com/oldgold

•Ohsaurus
https://soundcloud.com/ohsaurus


At The Mill at Trinity College
79 Vernon St., Hartford CT

Next to the Psi Upsilon fraternity house and across the street from the Campus Safety office.
Presented by The Mill at Trinity College and CT ArtList.


There will be complimentary refreshments.

FREE ADMISSION! BRING FRIENDS! IT'S GOING TO BE FUN NIGHT!
MEET GREAT ARTISTS AND MUSICIANS!

In 2009 I was contacted by the Crystal City Business Improvement District. They were interested in using images from a recent solo show I had just had at the Arlington Arts Center (https://www.arlingtonartscenter.org/) as part of their Art Walls  project (http://crystalcity.org/artful/art-walls). The idea of the program is to introduce art into areas of the city, adding color and interesting for Crystal City’s guests, residents, and employees.

My solo show became the public art installation, Supernature. It was a show of small paintings, the largest of which was 18 by 18 inches, the majority of them 10 by 10 inches. Imagine my shock when I saw my 10 by 10 inch paintings (like the ones above) blown up to 10 by 10 feet. When I first saw them I stopped my car in the middle of the road stunned, not a smart thing to do in Arlington.

Aside from shear scale, the explosion of color on an otherwise dull concrete underpass was needless to say, really exciting. It is still located 12th Street South in Crystal City.

Just about a month ago I was again contacted by the Crystal City BID to see if I would allow portions of my work to be used in signage for the new Arts Underground (http://crystalcity.org/artful/art-underground). This new space is a venue for galleries, studios, interactive exhibits and activities, performance and classroom spaces. I am excited to be part of it, the results are below.

Still a ways away but I will be having a solo show in the ECA+ Gallery at Easthampton City Arts+, Easthampton, MA in October 2013. More information about the venue can be found here: http://www.easthamptoncityarts.com/

It is still very much in the planning phases, no title, no artists statement but it is starting to take shape in my head. I've included some photos (studio shots, details, etc) of work that is likely to go into the show. At this point October seems so far away so who knows what will change by the time it gets here.

The work so far is exploring two things, edges and layers. It is the most time-consuming and intricate work I have done. I'm very excited.

The show opens October 12, hope to see you there.

The studio with a selection of possible work.

Recently finished painting, 30 by 30 inches. Acrylic on panel. February 2013

Small detail of a larger painting. January 2013

My first show for 2013 will be the CT Artlist Pop-up Exhbition

CT ArtList (www.ctartlist.com) is presenting it’s first pop-up show of artists from the website’s curated image bank.

The art and artist resource website was founded in September, 2012 by Danbury, CT. painter Megan Marden (http://www.meganmarden.com/). Marden, who has an M.F.A. in painting from Western Connecticut State University, created the site to provide visibility and valuable information to working Connecticut visual artists. In November 2012, the website was profiled on Sharon Butler’s (http://sharonlbutler.com/) art blog “Two Coats of Paint.” (http://www.twocoatsofpaint.com/)

The website lists information on 155 (and counting) Connecticut galleries and art spaces. Additionally the website provides listings for arts employment, internships, grants and residencies. Calls for artists and exhibition opportunities statewide are updated on a regular basis.

The curated image bank currently features 18 artists from every corner of the state, and in all different stages of their careers. An overwhelming majority of the featured artists are graduates of Connecticut art schools.

ARTISTS:
Amy Almeida (http://www.amyalmeida.com/)
Matthew J. Best (http://mjbest.squarespace.com/)
Daniel Bohman (www.danielbradleybohman.com)
Ethan Boisvert (www.ethanboisvert.com)
Matthew Cassar
Charlie Cunningham (http://www.CharlieCunninghamart.com/)
Kevin Ferreira (http://www.KCF.bz/)
Jim Felice (www.jimfelice.com)
Matthew Hester
Jana Ireijo (www.janaireijo.com)
Tiffany Johnson (www.theartoftiffanyjohnson.net)
Joe Bun Keo (http://joebunkeo.com/)
Janet Lage (www.janetlage.com)
Yelizaveta Masalimova (www.lizastudio.com)

Twitch and Whiskers Jewelry (http://twitchandwhiskers.blogspot.com/)
Burnkit 2600 (http://www.burnkit2600.com/)

Something Like A Box, 2012. 36 by 36 inches. Acrylic on canvas