Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Hollis.
Matt, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I came to LA from Washington D.C. where I had been showing sculptural works and immersive installations for many years. D.C. has a great arts community, which I found really nourishing for my own practice. I moved out here two years ago for an MFA program. There’s a great energy here, LA’s a creative city where it feels like anything is possible.
Graduate school totally made me reexamine my artistic process and the concepts behind my work and I felt like I emerged from the program a stronger artist.
Since graduating last May, I have been working at finding my place amongst the various art scenes in this complicated and wonderful city. I have already met so many awesome, hardworking, brilliant artists and it’s been a supportive community so far.
Can you give our readers some background on your work?
Lately, my work has been an investigation of instability, fragility, and impermanence and how these themes might apply to materials, structures, and ways of thinking/making.
The process of creation is never far-removed from the finished objects, which tend to appear as forms caught between states of materiality, transforming from raw materials into something almost unrecognizable. I tend to break materials down and then painstakingly reassemble them into new configurations. Tearing up fabric, hand-sewing or obsessively knotting it back together again, splintering and sharpening wood, and wrangling wire amateurs are all common practice in my process.
Any advice for aspiring or new artists?
Don’t compare yourself to other artists or let other’s success deter you, every artist has a unique perspective and it is important to stay true to your own vision and what inspires you to create in the first place.
It is important to seek out other like-minded, hard-working artists to form networks and collectives with. The artworld is stacked against us and the more we can band together, the better.
Being respectful, courteous, and pleasant to work with is almost as important as making great artwork and can lead to other opportunities.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I recently showed my work at the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery at Barnsdall Art Park and I currently have a few things in the works.
People can check out my website (www.enoughforall.com), Instagram (@artbymatthollis) and Twitter (@enoughforall).
I also have a Patreon with behind-the-scenes access into my studio practice and other exciting extras. (https://www.patreon.com/matthollis).
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.enoughforall.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artbymatthollis
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArtbyMattHollis
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/enoughforall
- Other: https://www.patreon.com/matthollis
Image Credit:
All Photos: Matt Hollis
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