Mateo Galvano
Mateo has had expositions in Santa Fe, Boston, New York, Norman, OK, and Provence France. He is currently working on a series of large and small paintings on canvas and wood, using oil, enamel, India and Sumi inks, collage, graphite, charcoal and Gesso to create paintings imbued with loss, accident and grace and possessing a humbling, understated beauty.
Blueshore Veil 6" x 18" oil & mixed media on 3 panels
SOLD
...excerpted from the portfolio of Mateo Galvano....
i'm assembling hundreds of 6" x 6" squares
made of mahogany panel primed with gesso.
i work on the squares individually or in groups,
the squares are then hung
in a large grid formation in my studio, a "pool of squares from which
pieces are "spawned"
by joining several squares together.
Playground 6" x 18" oil & mixed media on 3 panels
i paint on wood
because
of what it can withstand.
sometimes i glue paper or cloth onto the wood.
i build up layers of oil paint
and scrape it, sand it, or etch into it with sharp tools.
the wood retains its history.
Provenence 6" x 18" oil & mixed media on 3 panels
SOLD
in my current work
i am looking for a sense of atmosphere,
of unrecognizable matter and suggested forms
that emerge as if from childhood.
shapes float, sometimes above a vague horizon.
there are few figures, more often insects.
i do not plan, i make explorations.
i am mixing oil media with water-based
and responding to the event
of these media interacting, resisting each other
and finally settling together to dry.
the work is simple, a mapping of moments.
i am intrigued by chance and accident,
the mystery of that, contained within a square,
like a photograph.
the long horizontal pieces can be read from left to right
like filmic storyboards or comic strips.
there is no story, only associations, suggestions.
the titles indicate my familiar themes;
the lonely human, epiphany and transformation,
a celebration of hope and mystery.
MATEO GALVANO 2003 ©
Puppet Hands 6" x 18" oil & mixed media on 3 panels
The images on this page were created by Mateo for the "Spirit of the Holidays" show at "à la carte" November 2004.
More of Mateo's work can be seen by clicking here. Check back soon for some new additions as we are replacing originals that have been sold!
all images and writing on this site are copy written property of the artists and à la carte. ©