BIO
I am a self-taught artist guided by a principle that openness and self-awareness translate into a creative practice; to elicit latent emotions and memories and express them visually. To showcase this principle, I leverage the viewer’s subconscious recognition of familiar objects to address the issues of legitimacy and subjectivity. Different modalities, techniques, and color patterns are used to draw out the emotional connection with the objects, many of which are relevant to my past.
My work frequently incorporates common objects, salvaged items, refuse, and other found materials into different pieces, and I often utilize woodcuts to facilitate color transfer. As much as possible, I integrate the physical attributes of the tools that make the art, into the art.
I’ve always appreciated a wide spectrum of art from the early Renaissance to war propaganda to graffiti, and much of my work embodies the juxtaposition of my interest and these influences. Beginning at an early age, exposure to these various art forms, techniques, and cultural expressions began to shape my views on balance and relativism. For me, a successful visualization of an idea, memory, and emotion is about the awareness of the materials used to create the subject because the artwork and the creative process are equals in the outcome.
Frequent themes in my work include flags, flowers, hearts, and other common symbols, most of which are closely associated to childhood memories of family, friends, and community. Significant influences are sourced to early exposure to street art and pop art, and counterculture of the 80-90s in New York City and Montreal. Although I am non-conformist, I think it’s accurate to characterize some of my work as derivative of assembly art, where material objects or images are stacked within the work to represent the philosophy of process and personal history. Many of my works carry a broad spectrum of color, with the embodiment of words across uneven or collaged surfaces, rendered with stencil to further explore the surface with the viewer. The use of juxtaposition in my works supports the animation of images and represents the embodied of my connection to the work.
My Flag Series is one notable extended body of work in which I use the image of a flag to showcase different interpretations that familiar objects possess. The Flag Series has become central to my philanthropic work. Original works from my Flag Series are housed in different federal buildings including the Department of Agriculture, Department of Interior, and the Inter-American Foundation.
Pieces of art from my other bodies of work are privately collected across the United States and I frequently make pieces available through Artists in Middleburg, a non-profit in northern Virginia that works to help provide funding that supports the use of art for early childhood development.
Originally from central New Jersey, much of my life has been on the U.S. East Coast. I also spent time living in Florence, Italy as a student and translator, and subsequently in Naples, Italy where I resided as a U.S. Fulbright Scholar conducting research. I hold two advanced degrees in international relations and economics, and work in public service for the federal government.
Exhibitions
ION Arena, “One Planet, One Community,” Loudoun Symphony Orchestra, Leesburg, Virginia, June 1, 2024
Town of Middleburg, “Art in the Burg,” invited artist, Middleburg, Virginia, May 11, 2024
Artists in Middleburg, Member’s Exhibition,” group exhibit, Middleburg, Virginia Jan 13 – Feb 11, 2024
Leesburg First Friday, sponsored by The Global Local, solo exhibit, Leesburg, Virginia July 1 – September 15, 2023
Artists in Middleburg, “Art of the Flag, A Historical Discussion,” solo exhibit pop-up, Middleburg, Virginia July 4, 2023
Artists in Middleburg, “Red, White and/or Blue,” group exhibit, Middleburg, Virginia June 16 – July 16, 2023
National Memorial Day Parade, solo exhibit pop-up, Washington DC, May 29, 2023
Town of Middleburg, “Art in the Burg,” invited artist, Middleburg, Virginia, May 13, 2023
Town of Middleburg, “Meet the Artist,” invited artist, Middleburg, Virginia, April 29, 2023
Town of Middleburg, “Foxes on the Fence,” sponsored artist, Middleburg, Virginia, April 1 – May 13, 2023
Open Private Studio, Aldie, Virginia, March 26, 2023
Town of Middleburg, Oktoberfest Art Fair, invited artist, Middleburg, Virginia, Sept 17, 2022
Moderna Museet, “Dear Claes” (in memoriam), solo pop-up, Stockholm, Sweden, July 26, 2022
Old Ox Brewing, “Pop Art Pop-up,” invited artist, Middleburg, Virginia, May 21, 2022
Town of Middleburg, “Art in the Burg,” invited artist, Middleburg, Virginia, May 21, 2022
Leesburg First Friday, sponsored by King Street Coffee, solo exhibit, Leesburg, Virginia, April 1 – 30, 2022
Artists in Middleburg, “Member’s Exhibition,” group exhibit, Middleburg, Virginia, Feb 19 – March 20, 2022
Artists in Middleburg, “Anything Goes,” group exhibit, Middleburg, Virginia, Jan 15 – Feb 13, 2022
Franklin Park Arts Center, “Along for the Ride,” group exhibit, Purcellville, Virginia Nov 19 – Jan 2, 2022
Ocelot Brewing Co., “Oktoberfest,” invited artist, Dulles, Virginia, Oct 2, 2021
Artists in Middleburg, “Contrast and Harmony,” group exhibit, Middleburg, Virginia, July 31 – Aug 29, 2021
Artists in Middleburg, “Spring is in the Air,” group exhibit, Middleburg, Virginia, April 17 – May 16, 2021
Town of Middleburg, “Art in the Burg,” invited artist, Middleburg, Virginia May 15, 2021
Town of Middleburg, “Foxes on the Fence,” sponsored artist, Middleburg, Virginia, April 1 – May 9, 2021
Artists in Middleburg, “Reset, Restart,” group exhibit, Middleburg, Virginia, Feb 6 – March 7, 2021
Artists in Middleburg, “Red Rules,” group exhibit, Middleburg, Virginia, Sept 19 – Oct. 18, 2020
Leesburg First Friday, sponsored by King Street Coffee, solo exhibit, Leesburg, Virginia February 2020
Artists in Middleburg, “July 4 Flag Discussion” solo exhibit pop-up, Middleburg, Virginia July 4, 2019
United States Department of Agriculture, Print Release Event, WDC Nov. 1, 2019
Café Volan, “Matthew Pavone,” solo exhibit, Asbury Park, New Jersey, Fall 2018
Tryst Gallery, “LAX Squared,” group exhibit, Leesburg, Virginia, Aug. – Sept. 2018
Artists in Middleburg, “Chaos,” group exhibit, Middleburg, Virginia, March 2018
United States Department of Agriculture, “Art in Agriculture,” Group Exhibit, WDC, March 2017
Fundraising
American Valor Art Auction, for American Veterans Center, WDC, 2024
Purple Hearts Print Edition (open), produced for the American Veterans Center, 2023
American Valor Art Auction, for American Veterans Center, WDC, 2023
Loudoun Cares Art Auction, for Loudoun Cares, Herndon, Virginia, 2023
The Station Foundation, Eagle Cafe Benefit Concert at St. Bride’s Farm, Upperville, Virginia, 2023
Foxes on the Fence Art Auction, for the Town of Middleburg, Middleburg, Virginia, 2023
LGBTQ+ Suicide Prevention, for Trevor Project at Brew Birds Cafe, Aldie, Virginia, 2022-2023
American Valor Art Auction, for American Veterans Center, WDC, 2022
Loudoun Cares Art Auction, for Loudoun Cares, Herndon, Virginia, 2022
Legacy Print Edition of 50, produced for the American Veterans Center, 2022
American Valor Art Auction, for American Veterans Center, WDC, 2021
Venus, Print Edition of 100, proceeds for Mobile Hope, 2021
Enriching Lives Gala Art Auction, for Special Olympics, Prince Edward Island, Canada, 2021
Foxes on the Fence Art Auction, for the Town of Middleburg, Middleburg, Virginia, 2021
Glow, Print Edition of 50, produced for Take Steps Long Island, NY, Crohn Colitis Foundation, 2020
Bloom, Print Edition of 50, proceeds for National Cherry Blossom Festival Inc., 2020
Serve, Print Edition of 50, proceeds for Rotary Int’l. Potomac Chapter, 2020
American Valor Art Auction, for American Veterans Center, DC, 2020
ATL-Art Party Auction, for UNICEF, Atlanta, Georgia, 2020
American Valor Art Auction, for American Veterans Center, WDC, 2019
Graze, Print Edition of 50, proceeds for Artists in Middleburg, 2019
Flag, Print Edition of 50, proceeds for American Cancer Society, 2017
Service Recognition
2023 Board of Directors Appointment, The Artists in Middleburg, Middleburg, Virginia.
2023 Top 5 Overall Artist Fundraiser, “Foxes on the Fence,” Middleburg, Virginia
2023 Selected as Township Sponsored Artist for “Foxes on the Fence,” Middleburg, Virginia
2022 People’s Choice Award, Best in Show, “Art in the Burg,” Middleburg, Virginia
2022 Public Service Recognition Award, Middleburg Arts Council, Middleburg, Virginia
2021 Top 5 Overall Artist Fundraiser, “Foxes on the Fence,” Middleburg, Virginia
2021 Arts Advisory Council Appointment, 3-Year Term of Office, Middleburg, Virginia
2018 Featured “FLAG” BLICK Connect 4th of July weekend.
2017 Best in Category (Diversity), “Art in Agriculture” U.S. Department of Agriculture
Flag Series In Government Collections
2019 U.S. Department of Interior, Shepherdstown, West Virginia
2018 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington D.C.
Contributor and Teaching Experience
2023 July 4 Flag Series, Speaker, Artists in Middleburg, Middleburg, Virginia
2023 Artists in Middleburg, Red, White and Blue, Speaker, Artists, Middleburg, Virginia
2023 Artists in Middleburg, Participant, 5-Year Strategic Planning Session, Middleburg, Virginia
2022 Opening Discussion, Speaker, Loudoun Cares Art Auction, Reston, Virginia
2022 Art of the Flag painting, Educator, Middleburg, Virginia
2020 Art of the Flag painting workshops for children, Educator, Aldie, Virginia
2020 The Artistry of Impactful Giving, Speaker, Potomac Rotary Club, Potomac, Maryland
2019 July 4 Flag Series, Speaker, Artists in Middleburg, Middleburg, Virginia
2019 USDA Art in Agriculture, Speaker, print release event, Washington D.C.
Article, Interview, and Spotting
Leesburg Lifestyle, Elevating the Art of the Ordinary, June 2023
Leesburg Lifestyle, January 2023
Middleburg Eccentric, February 2021
Rotary International, Potomac Chapter, November 2020
Middleburg Life Magazine, October 2020
Flag Series, Artists in Middleburg, July 2019