Rebellion and Deconstruction at the Heart of Matt Gondek's Creativity
Artist Matt Gondek in Studio. Photo by Jonathan Jovel
Matt Gondek is a Deconstructive Pop Artist, entrepreneur, and the host of Clean Break, an Art & Business podcast. A self-taught artist with a sharp business sense recognized for his punk rock spirit, Matt celebrates rebellion and destruction with a visceral pop color palette and a disarmingly playful tone, often tearing down cartoon idols in explosive and glaring style. Across multi-mediums, such as painting, sculpture, and digital art, Matt has carved an impressive niche and gained notoriety with his distinctive essence. Born in 1982 in Pittsburgh, PA (and currently based in Los Angeles), Matt’s creative voice is rooted in the 90s. He boasts sold out exhibitions around the world, including New York, Paris, Los Angeles, Tokyo, and Hong Kong. Celebrity clients include J Balvin and The Weeknd.
INTERVIEW WITH MATT GONDEK
Can you tell us about your studio? What’s the first thing you do when you walk in?
Thank you for the interview! I'm in my dream studio—a vast live/work space in downtown Los Angeles. There's a spacious open room used for painting and fabricating. From there, you can access the side yard for relaxation or enter a room designated for packing merchandise orders. This room has an upper floor, serving as my office and digital work area. Additional features include a kitchen, a bedroom/storage space, and an area used for recording my Art and Business podcast, Clean Break. I always prefer working in spaces that feel homely rather than strictly work-oriented. It's important for my team and me to feel relaxed while working.
You’ve had a successful career with many sold art shows around the world. How do you keep innovation alive and avoid falling into a rut?
I think it's a byproduct of living in Los Angeles and constantly being surrounded by so many great artists, observing what they're working on. We all sort of help and push each other to do better. It's a great environment to be a part of.
Your recent large-scale paintings often reference a mirror or art that interacts with the foreground (such as Heart in a Cage, Opulence, and The Politician). Can you share the significance behind the theme?
Thanks for noticing! There isn't any profound reason behind it—just an effort to add more depth and push the work further. Including a mirror in the artwork provides the opportunity to depict both sides of the person within the painting. Incorporating a "painting" within my artwork serves to establish the tone for the environment or emotion I'm aiming to convey. For instance, in the painting titled "The Politician," the character sits in front of a large painting depicting a man trying on various faces and expressions. It might be a bit on the nose, but I believe it works.
Are there any upcoming exhibitions you are particularly excited about and can share with us?
I'm presently working on a project titled "Total Recall," comprising 104 smaller works that intricately connect to form one large and complex image. I've been painting it for over a year, and it's nearly complete. This will be my next significant project. However, as of now, we're still unsure of the exhibition venue. We need to complete the project before finalizing those details.
In addition to your practice, you host the Clean Break Podcast, which features conversations on how to succeed in the art world. If there was just one piece of advice you could give to emerging artists, what would it be?
Move out of your hometown.
