Crystals of Pristine Memory - Matt Story

Matt StoryCrystals of Pristine Memory"I try to paint contemporary life as to capture crystals of pristine memory that we all share but never describe to one another. Each composition uses the gesture of figure or setting to evoke a platonic form, an archetypal notion, a distilled essence, that thing that lasts beyond the moment." Matt Story studied art from an early age and demonstrated a unique skill for rendering verisimilitude, or hyper-realism. "I was lauded for 'photo-realistic' technique, but I was never after that, really, after what a camera impartially sees, because there's so much more there, captured only by the human filter of memory. We all posses these invisible imprints, through experience and living, but often it’s only artists who can play it back for us, to remind us. The paint surface needs to be a mirror for the viewer, reflecting back not his or her superficial self, but a deep shared humanness. This is the essence of looking at a piece that's totally unfamiliar to you and yet, being awed with a sense of recognition. Your reactions, those memories and feelings are uniquely yours but you're suddenly filled with a sense that you share them, at least with the artist, but probably even with everyone else. That of course is art at its best: the artist, sometimes doesn't even know what he's doing because he's a conduit of his or her own collective awareness."Ascending to NowStory worked as a technical illustrator and graphic artist from his early teens, and studied art in the United States and Western Europe. After graduating from U.C.L.A. he worked extensively throughout North America in film and television production. "The collaboration drove me crazy at some point. Of course, the isolation in the studio can be challenging too, but it suits me far better. In fact, I'm filled with a melancholy at the end of the day and I can hardly wait to rise early and launch into the studio (to the chagrin of my family)." Story has worked for over twenty years from his studio in Los Angeles but in mid-2013 began traveling with his wife, first with a long hiatus near Charleston, South Carolina, then Santa Fe, New Mexico and a long stint in New Orleans, Louisiana. Then, in late-2015, he settled in New York City where he paints today, often twelve or more hours a day and six or seven days a week. His method of oil painting on canvas and panel closely resembles the classical method, used for centuries by masters such as Titian and Caravaggio, two of Story's heroes, fastidiously building up thin glazes, painting "fat over lean" with traditional materials. His work is included in private and corporate collections in the United States, Europe and Asia.Selected Exhibitions and Collections2015 Aqua Art Basel, Miami, FL 2015 Plus One Gallery, London, UK 2015 Elisa Contemporary, Bronx, NY 2015 Robert Lange Studios, Charleston, SC 2015 The Vendue Hotel, Charleston, SC 2014 The Atelier Gallery, Charleston, SC 2010 James Gray Gallery, Santa Monica, CA 2009 Bergamot Station Art Center, Santa Monica, CA 2009 Art LA, Los Angeles, CA 2008 Bergamot Station Museum, Santa Monica, CA 2007 LA Art Show, LA, CA 2006 BGH Gallery, LA, CA 2005 Laguna Art Museum, Laguna, CA 2005 California Arts Council, Sacramento, CA 2004 Realisme Amsterdam, The Netherlands 2002 LACMA, LA, CA 2001 J. Paul Getty Museum, Artist at Work, LA, CA 1994 Alfabia Museum, Sumoto, Japan 1994 Galeria Prova, Tokyo, Japan 1993 Galerie Michael Haas, Berlin, Germany 1993 Art Cologne, Germany 1992 Zentrum Für Kunst, Lorenzstrasse, Germany 1992 Art in Embassies, Tokyo, Japan 1992 ZKU Gallery, Berlin, Germany 1991 Persterer Fine Art, Zurich, Switzerland 1991 Ecole Parsons a' Paris Oracle Corporation, Redwood, CA Walt Disney Corporation, Burbank, CA ABC Television Studios, Burbank, CA Bank of America Capital Management Group, NY, NY Samuel L. Jackson, Private Collection, Los Angeles, CA The Rob and Cindy Lanza Foundation, Japan/Australia Al Maktoum Estate and Private Collection, Dubai, UAE Balthazar and Rosetta Getty Private Collection, US/France

White Top Jostle - Matt Story

Limited Edition Prints available, see mattstory.com for details.

Red Scissor Back - Matt Story

New York City. Contact artist. Limited Edition Prints also available, see mattstory.com for details.

Purple Ascent Surfacing - Matt Story

New York City gallery. Contact artist for details. Limited Edition Prints also available, see mattstory.com for details.

Pacific Dream Floating - Matt Story

Limited Edition Prints available, see mattstory.com for details.

A Fiery Dream - Matt Story

Original in USA. Contact artist for details. Limited Edition Prints also available, see mattstory.com for details.

Purple Green Dream - Matt Story

Limited Edition Prints available, see mattstory.com for details.

Red Recline - Matt Story

Limited Edition Prints now available. See mattstory.com for details.

Pink Top Swim To - Matt Story

This painting on Exhibition in London, UK. Contact artist for details. Limited Edition Prints available at mattstory.com.