matthew palladino.
last week when i was rooting around on the interwebs, i was reading michael hsiung's blog. michael had posted a really beautiful, intense painting, it was at once gorgeous and totally effed up. i loved it. there wasn't much info other than a link back to the artist's flickr page. i quickly clicked on it getting lost w/in the art work. it was the flickr page of san francisco artist matthew palladino. besides the intensity and vibrancy of matthew's work, what i noticed first off was how quickly his work moved me.
last month, when i interviewed elbow-toe one of the things we talked about was how an artist's work can really hit you, move your soul as it were. since that conversation, i have been thinking a lot about that sentiment. really paying attention to visceral emotions that accompany my mindset when i view art. matthew's work does that to me instantly. his paintings get under my skin and really pull out emotions. his sharp colors and folkey-esque painting style is hard to tear my eyes away from. as a girl who grew up in the inner city w/ a family who championed craft, matthew combines a sensibility in his work that really speaks to me. plus, the painting of the geometric bandanas below entitled "chris johanson as a conflicted gang member" is just plain genius. no doubt about it.




















































great post! this cat's work is amazing! i just hopped over to his flickr page and was enthralled.
Posted by: John Shipman | Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 09:18 AM
This is slamming! So inspiring. Thank you...
Posted by: Figure 1 | Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 10:28 AM
i saw matthew's work at park life in san francisco last month. it's so amazing, thanks for reminding me and for the flickr link.
Posted by: melroska | Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 01:09 PM
wow, really great work here. some of it reminds me of Philip Guston's work. especially about being beautiful and strange at the same time.
Posted by: adam | Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 02:53 PM
wow wow wow!
Posted by: kate | Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 06:30 PM
Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! Art that makes you feel something is always so invigorating. I love it. Thank you so much for introducing me to him.
Also, I looked up the work of Molly M once you mentioned that my necklace looked like one of her designs & I agree! The people at the store that I bought the necklace actually never told me who made it but they did mention that the wood was laser cut. I am wondering if it is one of her designs...
Anyway, sorry for the long comment! And, thanks for your comment on my blog! :)
Posted by: Emily Abigail | Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 07:07 PM
yes, yes, I agree with melroska. it is strangely interesting, yet highly aesthetic, and it's like a Wonder Twin Ring activating when the 2 work together.
Posted by: carol es | Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at 05:32 PM
wow.
Posted by: adam c. | Friday, July 18, 2008 at 10:52 AM
sick ass work!
Posted by: mildred | Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 02:07 PM
that bandanna is so beautiful.
Posted by: cake. | Monday, September 15, 2008 at 01:52 PM