Matthew Donovan

I've been a fulltime Stagehand for 20 years, in that time I've had little time for my artwork. I'm focused this year to reclaim that in me!

Currently 11th

in their Group
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You decide who will appear in Artforum Magazine, take home $25,000, and display their work at The Art of Elysium's Salon!

Voting for the Top 10 ends Thursday the 28th of May at 7PM PDT

What is The People's Artist?

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What is your favorite type of art to create?

When I was young, I remember summer classes at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Through Grade School I did a lot of sketches and some sculptures for school projects. In High School I started taking interest in Photography, and started teaching myself Oil Painting. I continued that through my 20s, with organic sculptures. The past 15 years have gone by with a few beautiful oil paintings produced, countless gorgeous photos taken, but now my passion has grown to functional wood crafted sculptures!

Where do you find inspiration?

In my dreams, I fall deep into R.E.M. slumber with swiftness. It could be only a moment, a fraction of a second, but time is elusive in that state. "Slumber With A Key", is one practice I learned in Highschool, from 50 Secrets of Magic Craftsmanship by Salvador Dali. I have recently been internally challenging myself, with great torment. Becoming more aware of the anxiety I've caged for so many years. My soul is uneasy and yearning to emerge with glorious artwork that have rumbled in this dream!

What would you do with $25,000?

I would take an extended respite from every day life, take this time with precise delusional focus, to move away mentally from this world that is so comfortable to me. To take daring steps and battle the anxiety that has kept me from my true passion. I would immerse myself in my art, more painting, more time allowed to catalog photos, more time spent in the woodshop, and teach myself welding and forging. Preparing myself for pure joy. Building a life to be sustainable by living off of my art!

The Art of Elysium

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