Matthew Robertson, Berkeley
Member Since February 2016
Artist Statement The human condition is a dynamic one, filled with a multitude of contrasting
events, experiences and characteristics, often interwoven with one another in
complex and confusing fashions. My art reflects this eclectic and multi-faceted
quality of the human experience. Much of my creative energy has been focused
on developing a visual language that incorporates both figuration and
abstraction. I’m excited to explore the dissonance that occurs when juxtaposing
realism with abstraction to describe a subject.
Formal elements of composition and design are important to me. Rubens, Corot,
Sargent and Cartier-Bresson are just a handful of the great artists whose work I
admire for their masterful handling of design and composition. While I give a lot
of merit to the value of dedicating a substantial amount of time and energy to the
design process, I also like to give myself the room to improvise. This approach
allows for the possibility of surprising moments of discovery while working on the canvas.