Matthew Monahan

Published on the occasion of the exhibition Matthew Monahan at Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati, April 23 - October 23, 2011.

Matthew Monahan (*1972 in Eureka, California) assembles found materials into dynamic sculptures. His work pays homage to ancient and contemporary cultures and exhibits references to works by Joseph Beuys, Dieter Roth, or Isa Genzken. Besides his sculptures, he creates detailed charcoal drawings that are frequently an integral part of his assemblages. Laura van Grisven notes in this respect: “Monahan searches for images, icons of hope and faith, and in equal measure of despair and pain, cutting across history, across cultures. He modernizes these images and makes them utterly his own.”

For this exhibition, Matthew Monahan combines signature pieces with new sculptural works embracing Zaha Hadid’s architecture and responding to the unusual spatial relationships and perspectives of the venue’s spaces. The publication is the first comprehensive book project of the artist to date.