(b. 1971)
Best known for his screen prints and letter press, Matthew Brannon’s work explores the disparity between presiding social ideals and reality of daily life and personal hardship. Concentrating his attention on middle class signifiers of sophistication, Brannon uses the imagery of familiar objects like martini glasses, cigarettes and cheese plates paired with quip, paradoxical statements to evoke a sense of irony and cynicism. The attitudes expressed through this accompaniment reveal underlying sentiments evident in contemporary society.
Borrowing his graphic aesthetic from 1950s and 60s B movie posters, Brannon’s prints are thoughtfully subtle and are without excess of imagery or information. As a result, his minimal compositions tie in notions of refinement and taste, while his process of printmaking and reference to movie poster marketing suggest the code of mass production and consumption.
Matthew Brannon grew up in small town Idaho, eventually leaving to pursue his education at UCLA. After graduating, he moved to New York where he received his MFA from Columbia University and continues to live and work.
SELECTED PUBLIC COLLECTION
Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY
Rennie Collection, Vancouver, Canada
Ringler Collection, Zurich, Switzerland
Rubell Family Collection, Miami, FL
MADRE Museum, Naples, Italy
The Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, CA The Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY
The Alfond Collection of Contemporary Arts, Cornell Fine Arts Museum, Rollins College, Winter Park, FL
The Denver Art Museum, Denver, CO
Georgia Museum of Art, Athens, GA
