"THE BIRDS AND THE BEES: A Swarm of Recent Paintings by Dana Ellyn and Matt Sesow"
Dana Ellyn and Matt Sesow
April 18 - May 20, 2012
Opening Vernissage with the Artists:
Saturday April 28, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Live music by Demivolt and Walker Road
April 18 - May 20, 2012
Opening Vernissage with the Artists:
Saturday April 28, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Live music by Demivolt and Walker Road
Dana Ellyn
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Matt Sesow
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about the artists
Dana Ellyn
“I’m not sure if I paint in my pajamas or sleep in my clothes,” says Dana Ellyn, who is consumed, delighted and absorbed with the process of painting. Art is her way of telling stories with themes as varied as mythology, religion, feminism, politics and the American Dream. Dana’s paintings are at once playful, morbid, endearing, ironic, menacing, and intoxicating. All of these emotions are released as a liberation in her work. She plays the role of social realist, caricaturist, satirist and expressionist in her visually arresting canvases, often referencing artistic and cultural motifs as varied as Alfred Hitchcock, Picasso, Fairy Tales, Mexican Folk Art and Charlotte’s Web.
Dana Ellyn is a Washington, DC based artist who has painted full time for over 10 years. She graduated from the George Washington University with a degree in Art History and Fine Art in 1992. She has exhibited throughout the United States and abroad, most recently in Baltimore, Maryland; Barcelona, Spain; Norfolk, Virginia; Casablanca, Morocco; Westhampton, New York; and Washington DC.
Matt Sesow
There is a lexicon of iconography to the work of Matt Sesow. Bunnies, breasts, scars, airplanes, teeth, angels and dogs all recall an aspect of the artist’s past and emotional life. His work is authentic and humanistic, referencing the ideas of artists such as Jean Dubuffet, Keith Haring, and Jean Michel Basquiat, in the style of Art Brut. Matt paints to make visible his inner turmoil, social commentary and pure pleasure of expression. The allegory in Matt’s paintings evolve from his own personal trauma and his many travels through countries such as Spain, China and Costa Rica. Matt is a self taught painter who uses his art for both political expression and to convey the suffering of the disenfranchised. HIs paintings are powerful, savage and intuitive.
Matt Sesow has painted full time for over 10 years. He lives and works in his studio in Adams Morgan, in Washington, DC. He is extremely prolific and has won numerous artist residencies and exhibited in over 30 solo and group shows throughout the United States and abroad. In 2012 he will exhibit in over 15 shows and counting.
Dana Ellyn and Matt Sesow married in 2010.
“I’m not sure if I paint in my pajamas or sleep in my clothes,” says Dana Ellyn, who is consumed, delighted and absorbed with the process of painting. Art is her way of telling stories with themes as varied as mythology, religion, feminism, politics and the American Dream. Dana’s paintings are at once playful, morbid, endearing, ironic, menacing, and intoxicating. All of these emotions are released as a liberation in her work. She plays the role of social realist, caricaturist, satirist and expressionist in her visually arresting canvases, often referencing artistic and cultural motifs as varied as Alfred Hitchcock, Picasso, Fairy Tales, Mexican Folk Art and Charlotte’s Web.
Dana Ellyn is a Washington, DC based artist who has painted full time for over 10 years. She graduated from the George Washington University with a degree in Art History and Fine Art in 1992. She has exhibited throughout the United States and abroad, most recently in Baltimore, Maryland; Barcelona, Spain; Norfolk, Virginia; Casablanca, Morocco; Westhampton, New York; and Washington DC.
Matt Sesow
There is a lexicon of iconography to the work of Matt Sesow. Bunnies, breasts, scars, airplanes, teeth, angels and dogs all recall an aspect of the artist’s past and emotional life. His work is authentic and humanistic, referencing the ideas of artists such as Jean Dubuffet, Keith Haring, and Jean Michel Basquiat, in the style of Art Brut. Matt paints to make visible his inner turmoil, social commentary and pure pleasure of expression. The allegory in Matt’s paintings evolve from his own personal trauma and his many travels through countries such as Spain, China and Costa Rica. Matt is a self taught painter who uses his art for both political expression and to convey the suffering of the disenfranchised. HIs paintings are powerful, savage and intuitive.
Matt Sesow has painted full time for over 10 years. He lives and works in his studio in Adams Morgan, in Washington, DC. He is extremely prolific and has won numerous artist residencies and exhibited in over 30 solo and group shows throughout the United States and abroad. In 2012 he will exhibit in over 15 shows and counting.
Dana Ellyn and Matt Sesow married in 2010.
