Casey Matthews lives a double life. Splitting her time between her home on Amelia Island, FL and a Chelsea apartment in New York City, in many ways, the Texas native is living an artist’s dream. The best of both worlds, surrounded by natural beauty and small town Florida charm on one hand and the energy, excitement and grit of Manhattan life on the other. She puts those hands together to create a body of work that is at once cosmopolitan and organic.
While Goldfish Sleep, mixed media on canvas, 48×60
Translucent washes of color recall water washing over sand or the pearl-like finish of the inside of a seashell. Amoebic shapes cluster together like bubbles, a few occasionally breaking from the pack and seeming to drift across and down the surface of the canvas.
In The Thick Of It, mixed media on canvas, 36×48
Sleep Deprived and the Dog Can’t Wait, mixed media on canvas, 48×60
But look closely at those clusters of shapes and color– it is in these little pockets that Casey lets the urban darkness come through..
Sleep Deprived And The Dog Can’t Wait ( detail )
Casey is nothing if not a self-aware artist, working through the dynamics of her “dual citizenship” in the two pieces City Mouse, Country Mouse ( below ).
City Mouse, mixed media on canvas, 48×72
Country Mouse, mixed media on canvas, 48×72
This is intuitive work, the colors, shapes and forms emerging from the artist’s surroundings, emotions and experiences..
Prolapse, mixed media on canvas. 24×30
…with a touch of sardonic wit thrown in for good measure. Are those grey tones reflective of the bleached Florida sand or is it the haze of NYC steel and concrete? Only Casey knows for sure.
Construction Worker Boyfriend, mixed media on canvas, 36×48
Check out more of Casey Matthews’ work on her website and blog. If you’re in the North Florida area, stop by Blue Door Artists in downtown Fernandina Beach for 2nd Saturday Artrageous Artwalk this Saturday, July 9th, Casey is their featured artist for July.
kevin
July 7, 2011 at 7:56 PMbeautiful!
Chrissy Foreman C
July 19, 2011 at 6:21 PMLove love loooove Casey’s work!
Lesley
July 19, 2011 at 6:59 PMOne of my favorites, too, Chrissy!
Artsy Around the Web: Guest Post on isavirtue Today! « Artsy Forager
March 10, 2012 at 10:43 AM[…] today! I’m featuring one of my all time favorite artists, Casey Matthews. I never get tired of gushing over Casey’s work! Rekindle, mixed media on canvas, […]