Mike Collins

The Drowning Man

Provenance: Venice Institute of Contemporary Art Consigned from Artist Far & Near, ViCA 2019 Edge to Edge, ViCA May 5-June 28, 2019

Acrylic on canvas.

Artist/Designer; Manufacturer: Matt Godwin (American, b. 1987) Marking(s); notes: signed; circa 2010 Materials: mixed media on paper Dimensions (H, W, D): 24"h, 18"w; 33.5"h, 27.25"w frame Additional Information: Matt Godwin’s raw, expressive figuration fuses comic brutality with psychological depth, echoing the neo-expressionist energy of artists such as George Condo, Robert Nava...

John-Herbert was born in Miami and moved to New York city when he was 3 years old. As the son of a Filipno mother and bi-racial father, his multi-cultural roots at first felt like a challenge but with time, and especially through his creative explorations, he would create his own unique world. This would immerse into his work; containing multiple points of views. Inspirations from Basquiat to Van Gogh, Monet to Dali and Matisse; John-Herbert developed a Neo-Expressionist approach infused with surrealism, figurative, and abstract renderings. From the tender age of eight, Wright gravitated to painting as an escape expressing a rich inner world. His work heavily relies upon dark figurations amongst an urban landscape leaving the viewer space to navigate the world he creates. An analogy of the human condition; centering the female nude/mother and child as the protagonist, he tells the story of the broken seeking respite, the downcast, the other. Wright seeks to illuminate the universe of darkness within all of us, within himself, and that darkness contrasted with fragility has always been at the epicenter of his work. Wright has managed to create a niche for himself as a painter and street-wear designer, contributing to the role the graphic t-shirt played in disseminating New York street culture across the globe. Transferring the techniques of garment making onto his canvases, Wright’s paintings feature backdrops of multiple layers of silk-screened images, drawings and text. He has also expanded his avenues of expression, creating installations and even multi-sensory exhibitions, building even more detailed spaces to travel with him through. Although his success has been celebrated, in many ways till recently, Wright has also kept his own story on fade. This changed last year with his highly lauded solo show “Rewind & Reflect” (at the Blue Gallery...