Matthew Grabelsky - museum of art

Matthew GrabelskyTechnically inspired by 19th Century academic and naturalist painters, Grabelsky creates surreal scenes with a staggering degree of realistic detail. The contrast created between the visual verisimilitude of the works and the surreal improbability of their content catches the viewer in a prolonged moment of convincingly suspended disbelief. “These paintings are not intended to be viewed as fantasy or as allegory, but rather as a blend of every-day experiences with the subconscious. They are enigmatic, and create dream-like worlds that invite viewers to form their own interpretations of the imagery presented,” stated Matthew Grabelsky.ThemeGrabelsky’s works depict couples on subways, often nonchalantly reading magazines or newspapers, but the male figures in these dyads are strange, quasi-mythological human hybrids with animal heads. Deer, bears, elephants, tigers, and everything in between make a suited appearance in rush hour. By contrasting the platitudes of the day-to-day with the presence of the extraordinary and unlikely, Grabelsky stages the unexpected within the most unassuming of circumstances. The appearance of the animal head feels distantly totemic, an archetype for something primordial, ancient, and psychologically motivated. Fascinated by the persistence of animal imagery in mythology and communal cultural imaginaries, Grabelsky superimposes its presence onto his depictions of the contemporary world. For the artist, the animal becomes a manifestation of the inner workings of the hidden subconscious, literally revealing the latent identities and motivations lurking beyond the composure of the human mask.

Morning Commute - Matthew Grabelsky

86Th Street - Matthew Grabelsky

Exit at Union Square - Matthew Grabelsky

Brooklyn Bound - Matthew Grabelsky

Lexington Avenue Local - Matthew Grabelsky

Claire & Leo - Matthew Grabelsky

Back Uptown - Matthew Grabelsky

Downtown Express - Matthew Grabelsky

1To Penn Station - Matthew Grabelsky

6 To Brooklyn Bridge - Matthew Grabelsky

Mandy & Mr. Buck - Matthew Grabelsky

Yeti´s Girl - Matthew Grabelsky

I spy the Alligator Man - Matthew Grabelsky

Emma Snow & The Yeti - Matthew Grabelsky

Alexandra & The Minotaur - Matthew Grabelsky

Knight & The Lady - Matthew Grabelsky

Iguana Season - Matthew Grabelsky

Exit Pursued By A Bear - Matthew Grabelsky

Satir´s Glance - Matthew Grabelsky

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