All tagged Petra Mattes

Interview with Petra Mattes

Most of my chosen canvases and surfaces are conscious decisions. It begins with the size of the canvas and then the structure. This decision is very important. The painting process is a constant making of choices which influence, enormously, the result. Sometimes I struggle with the surface and ask it what it wants. To work against the surface is contradictory. For example, I chose a very plain canvas surface for the painting -love- , as I wanted the black color to drop down on it, to express the fluid existence of love. According to the philosopher Heraclitus, “Everything flows…”

Petra Mattes

Petra Mattes is a trailblazer in contemporary abstraction. Her unique synthesis of minimalist and gestural approaches, combined with her philosophical rigor, sets her apart in the art world. Whether through the pulsating energy of "Heartbeat," the contemplative spaces of "Insecure," or the vibrant dissonance of "Lost in Brazil," Mattes offers a body of work that is as challenging as it is rewarding. Her place in the art scene—as both a critical and commercial success—is well-earned, and her influence is poised to endure.

Petra Mattes

The oeuvre of Petra Mattes represents a bold and dynamic foray into the realms of contemporary abstraction, a genre that continues to evolve and challenge the perceptive boundaries of its audience. Her work, characterized by the emotive use of color, gestural brushstrokes, and a profound sense of movement, seems to marry the intensity of Neo-Expressionism with the unrestrained freedom of Abstract Expressionism, creating a new species of abstraction that stands out in the modern art landscape.