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April Issue 2008
Adam Cave Fine Art in Raleigh, NC,
Features Works by Matt Lively
Matt Lively may just be the "hardest working
man" in the art world. This Richmond, VA, artist has built
himself a thriving career and a nationwide collector base through
a combination of creativity, experimentation and lots and lots
of time in the studio. Through Apr. 29, 2008, Lively will unveil
his newest body of work at Adam Cave Fine Art in downtown Raleigh,
NC. This will be the artist's first exhibition in Raleigh and
area collectors can look forward to a fresh and surreal experience.
For someone still under 40, Lively has already had a full career.
The artist graduated from VCU with a BFA in 1992. His unique images
have gained him recognition across the country and sales of his
artwork fully support his wife and family. While many artists
achieve commercial success by doing one thing repeatedly, Lively
has found ways to continue the experimentation that is the hallmark
of a truly creative individual. Under the guise of various pen
names, Lively creates entirely separate bodies of work from what
he is best known for. These "alter-egos" experiment
with different ideas, images and mediums; the results eventually
find their way into Lively's main body of work. In this way, the
artist continues to grow and develop his subject matter, adding
an ever-increasing richness and depth.
The subjects of these paintings are at once familiar and surreal,
playful and strange. Many of the scenes feel like theatrical stage
sets where the actors are all chairs, tables, pianos, telephones
and fans. Every object sits at an odd angle suggesting life and
movement. Although Lively does not paint people in these scenes,
empty dresses and shoes act as stand-ins. Strangest of all is
the occasional appearance of "beecylces"; little bees
on unicycles flying through the air. The overall effect is both
quiet and active at the same time and the viewer cannot help but
escape into this alternative universe.
Many famed surrealists such as Salvador Dali have used
photorealistic techniques to add a sense of realism to their images. Lively,
on the other hand, works in a much more painterly manner. The
surfaces of each painting are heavily worked, painted, scraped
and repainted time and again. His working methods, just like his
subject matter, instill a sense of living energy into the final
work.
Adam Cave Fine Art is an exhibition gallery representing a select
group of regional and nationally known painters, printmakers and
photographers. The gallery occupies the second floor of an historic,
100-year old building at 115-1/2 East Hargett Street and is located
in the Moore Square Arts District in the heart of downtown Raleigh.
For further information check our NC Commercial
Gallery listings, call the gallery at 919/838-6692 or visit (www.adamcavefineart.com).
Carolina Arts is published monthly by Shoestring Publishing Company, a subsidiary of PSMG, Inc. Copyright© 2008 by PSMG, Inc., which published Charleston Arts from July 1987 - Dec. 1994 and South Carolina Arts from Jan. 1995 - Dec. 1996. It also publishes Carolina Arts Online, Copyright© 2008 by PSMG, Inc. All rights reserved by PSMG, Inc. or by the authors of articles. Reproduction or use without written permission is strictly prohibited. Carolina Arts is available throughout North & South Carolina.