Contents

ABOUT MATT

RECENT SHOWS

• Out of the Black

• Greedy Gas Guzzlers

• Rivera Real Estate

• Living the Dream

CURATED SHOWS + THE RIVIERA

• The Rivera Gallery

• Native New Yorker - Mike Davison

• Trespassers Will be Eaten - Tracey Tawhiao + George Nuku

• Mounds - Paul McNeil

• Amnesia Beirut - Locust Jones

SHOW HISTORY

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Matt Campbell matt@areyouexcited.com

Matt Campbell has been working in the visual arts for 20 years. From fine art to Pop and bordering the surreal - Matt produces his own artwork, creates and directs conceptual shows (often involving many other artists) and has also curated many of his favorite contemporaries.

Matt’s recent multi-media artwork, painting, sculpture and printmaking explores themes mostly concerned with consumerism and pop culture and the subsequent impact on, and alienation from, the natural environment. His latest show “Out of the Black” is perhaps his ultimate expression of this theme.

Riviera Real Estate was a conceptual intallation, where Matt worked with over 30 other contributing artists to transform the Riviera gallery into a faux real estate agency - an ironic send up of the development madness that engulfed Williamsburg in the mid noughties. The Gallery was entirely transformed - staffed with agents, model buildings, faux listings and of course a faux website.

As one of the founding partners of the Riviera Gallery in NYC (2003 - 2008) Matt curated 3 - 4 shows a year of his favorite local and international artists. When the gallery folded in 2008 Eric Foss invited Matt to curate a Riviera style show at the Fuse Gallery - Matt subsequently hosted “Living the Dream” at Fuse in March 2010

www.outoftheblack.org

www.rivierarealestateagency.com

www.seeyouattheriviera.com

www.areyouexcited.com

www.spanko.com

ABOUT MATT Matthew Campbell Downes. Art Basel Miami - Exhibition, Book signing and Mural.

This work embodies the state of mankind today and our imprint on the planet.For the most part we are destroying it. We take natural resources and create garbage and pollution. We invade the habitats of other life forms and take them over and drive them out.

We know it’s bad but we can’t stop - because we love all the cool shiny new stuff we make. We love technology and we love Tuna and we just want to keep eating it.

These creatures have been all been created, loved, abandoned and symbolically entombed in a black rubber skin. Wrenched out of the blue (the natural living world) and thrown into the black (the artificial or “dead” world that we create).

They are sad but also, simultaneously, shiny and attractive. I am struck by their iconic beauty - saddened by their bedraggled state. They’re Cute yet Dark - whimsical but cynical. I’m curious that we’re attracted to this interesting mix of characteristics? Is it to do with our conflicted nature? We love to create and marvel at life - but even the smallest child, male or female, instinctively revels in destruction and curiously kills a bug out of wonder? I decided to call the show “Out of the Black” because I’m hopeful that we’re now collectively heading somewhat in new direction away from our dark past.

Go to the minisite to see the full collection of works and the short film that was made to promote the show

RECENT SHOWS CONTENTS

Black Teddy Iconic

Wall Sculpture - 30 x 40 cm

Cotton and acrylic paint magnetically mounted on lacquered wood.

Matthew Campbell Downes. Art Basel Miami - Exhibition, Book signing and Mural.

Blackened Pup

Wall sculpture - 30 x 40 cm

Cotton and acrylic paint magnetically mounted on lacquered wood

Shots from the show April 1st - 30th, 2010.RECENT SHOWS CONTENTS

Zakka, Soho, New York, November 2003

Come celebrate expressionistic consumption abuse and vehicles of mass destruction! Greedygasguzzlers is a colorful cryptic examination of Americas’ preoccupation with material excess - the obsession with bigger is better, and all in the name of freedom of course. This is a multi-media show featuring digital prints, drawing and sculpture. Greedy Gas Guzzlers is the latest work of New York based NZ artist Matt Campbell. Big, bright and vibrant, Matt’s art blends design, packaging, drawing, photo collage, sculpture and painting into a pop culture, mish-mashed rehash that teases and pleases. Gonna make your blue skies black! Come for a laugh or half a hummer it’s agreat way to start the summer.

Riviera Gallery, Williamsburg, Brooklyn June 2003

RECENT SHOWS CONTENTS

Stop Sign of My Times

Vinyl on Aluminium Stop Sign

120cm x 120cm

RECENT SHOWS CONTENTS

Olly Oil - Custom Toy Collage

11cm x 8cm x 4cm

Brownstone 4 x 4 Duplex Coupe.

Custom Toy Collage. 18cm x 15cm x 9cm

Scrapbook. Archival Digital Print on Canvas. 100 cm x 75 cm

Matthew Campbell Downes. Art Basel Miami - Exhibition, Book signing and Mural.

The Riviera Real Estate show at the Riviera Gallery, Brookyn, NYC - September 2007.

This show was a rip on the insane Real Estate market in Williamsburg NYC at the time. Anyone who has spent time in Williamsburg, especially over the last 5 years, will totally get this show. It was a period of unprecedented, insane and illogical development. Five new realestate agents opened in the neighborhood in as many months - selling luxury condo’s and apartments galore (not mentioning that they’re built on toxic ex-industrial sites) all sold site-unseen off of digital models and virtual walk throughs.

Conceived and curated by Matt Campbell the show involved 40 different artists in various capacities – transforming the gallery literally into an imaginary real estate agency - staffed with realtors, model concept buildings, imaginary listings, drawings and paintings of lost landmarks building sites. The show was a lot of fun and really well received by the communitythe only bummer was the new York times calling to ask if they could feature it the day after we took it down. Check out the website www.rivierarealestateagency.com and yes the Platinum Empire Cove still has suites available. See the “Fixit guys” film and more images here

RECENT SHOWS CONTENTS

Shacked Up!

This place may seem a little overtly industrial at first but it’s actually very cosy and completely private. Great views and Free electricity!Furthermore - what you can’t see from this photo is that the pylons are are actually over water - yes this is a swampy lowland area out by JFK.

Sea views and handy to the airport!!

Enquire for more information.

Pro Am / Spanko

Gary Panter

Kaz Prapuolenis

Matt Campbell

Stephen Bliss

Roy Calloway

Travis Millard

Mel Kadel

Karl Wills

John Hobbs

Bill Moulton

John Tymkiw

Yuri Shimojo

Chris Capuozzo

Ted McGrath

Reg Mombassa

Marcus Oakley

Travis Millard

Group show curated by Matt Campbell Fuse Gallery, NYC March 2010

“Hooray for the dreamers - the losers and the odd balls. The old-timers, life-timers, the ground-breakers and the pioneers. Hey ho to the subway performers toiling away night and day and all those who paint their passion on the streets. Not on TV, not profiled in a magazine maybe, not famous - don’t care.” Show photos here.

CURATED SHOWS CONTENTS

Gary Panter

Stephen Bliss

Mel Kadel

Kaz

Marcus Oakley

Travis Millard

Tristan EatonCamille Rose Garcia

Jeff SotoLocust Jones Travis Millard

Micheal SiebenStephen Bliss

Angela BoatwrightJim HouserPeter Beste

Deanne CheukAndrew Poneros

Richard ColemanSprinkle brigade

Jordan IsipAJ Fosik

Steve EllisCharles WilkinTracy TawhiaoGeorge NukuMIke DavisonLaura Hanifin

KC CollinsMatt HollisterMatt Owens

Matt CampbellTed McGrathJohn HobbsPhillip KellyBill Moulten

Paul ClarkScien and Klor

Lee MishenheimerJeff Winterburg

MadsakiRyan Sanchez

Paul McNeilHarvey Wang

Stephan J RayonRoy Calloway

Trust meMatthew Rodriguez

Justin FinesKevi Devine

The Rivera Gallery Williamsburg, Brooklyn 2003 - 2008.

Matt was one of the five founding partners of The Riviera Gallery, established in January 2003 on Metropolitan Avenue in the burgeoning arts neighborhood of Williamsburg, Brooklyn just a few blocks from the East River in NYC.

As an artist run, and entirely self funded gallery, the curatorial directive was very simple: the 5 partners set out to represent the most interesting young talent they could find around them amongst their piers and friends in New York. This informal attitude struck a chord in NYC where it is very difficult for young artists to break through into the art scene unless they follow “the rules” and enter through the established channels. Without any particular intent it seems that the theme of the first show “Fugitives” has stayed with gallery, in that it consistently represented artists that fell outside the bounds of the traditional fine arts scene in the US. In this way, the Riviera became part of the new wave of underground art that is beginning to establish itself nationwide and internationally as an alternative scene with a wide audience of it’s own. Some of today’s well established indie artists had their first NY show at the Riviera - Jeff Soto, Carmen Rose Garcia, Angela Boatwright and Peter Beste to name a few.

As a curatorial partner Matt showcased New Zealand artists that he thought had something culturally significant to offer a NYC audience. Because the Riviera gallery had it’s roots in NYC it meant that these artists were playing to a local crowd rather than to an expat audience which is unfortunately usually the case with touring artist shows. The Riviera audience responded very well to the likes of “Trespassers will be Eaten” the show was well attended and sales were great.

The gallery consistently attracted large crowds to its’ regular openings and firmly established itself as one of the most prominent venues in Williamsburg consistently showcasing interesting works of a very high standard. Over the six years the gallery received attention from publications as diverse as Creative Review, Anthem Magazine, Juxtapoz, Time Out NY, New York Magazine and The New York Times.

In 2008 the partners collectively agreed to close the gallery space as rising rent in Williamsburg had dislocated the artists scene there and the openings became predominantly overrun by young hipsters looking for free booze over and above anything else. The partners continue to operate as a curatorial collective into other spaces - the most recent show being the “Living the Dream” show at Fuse Gallery in the East Village curated by Matt and other Riviera members.

www.seeyouattheriviera.com

THE RIVIERA GALLERY CONTENTS

Mike Davison

Curated by Matt CampbellRiviera Gallery - June 2008.

In 7 years spent in Chinatown NYC - this white new Zealander

(pakeha) felt a clambering for cultural identity. The anonymity

and freedom that New York affords one to chose where you

“come from” is unique. “I’m Irish but I’ve never been there”.

Mike’s current work around cultural and spiritual identity and

osmosishas been influenced by the raw street art and racial minority status he held while in

Chinatown, New York.

Returning to New Zealand nine years ago, Mike’s work to reflects

the mixing of European and native Maori culture. Exploring the

differing spiritual and material priorities and testing the

boundaries of the two key cultural identities in

one country.

CURATED SHOWS CONTENTS

Trespassers Will be Eaten. Tracey Tawhiao + George Nuku

Curated by Matt Campbell, Riviera Gallery - January 2004.

“Trespassers Will be Eaten” is an art show of works that present Cannibalism as a symbol of the equality of all living things. Tracey Tawhiao and George Nuku present their philosophy combining traditional and modern art forms to deliver a transformation of the spirit through beauty of natural forms. George Nuku works in Maori carving in polystyrene and jewelry from Polynesian shell. Tracey Tawhiao shows a fusion of traditional Maori motifs with graffiti on Vinyl and series of paintings on Newspaper. Subverting the news on both New Zealand and New York newspaper.

Waharoa-portal: gateways to houses of thought.

Curated by Matt Campbell, Riviera Gallery - January 2004.

Mounds, who knows what’s under them?Originally born New Zealand in 1961, Paul McNeil has lived in Sydney since 1987. He moved on to Byron Bay, a small coastal town where dolphins and backpackers rule, in 2003. His graphic outlook is somewhere near there but his mindset is buried in the city that he just left behind.

CURATED SHOWS CONTENTS

‘DECEPTION BEIRUT’ 98 x 74” oil on canvas, 2004

Curated by Matt Campbell, Riviera Gallery - July 2004.

Work made in Beirut, Lebanon during and eight week residence.The works have been inspired by the collective Amnesia of the Beirutis dues to the Civil War, the pulling down of buildings and the subsequent reconstruction that has lead to a vacume in peoples minds about what their city used to look like.

SHOW HISTORY

“Out of the Black” - Hanahou Gallery NYC 2010

“Out of the Black” Open studio - Auckland 2009

“Live Painting Tour” Japan - Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka and Sendai 2009

“Carnivora” group show curated by Les Barany - Cpop Gallery Detroit 2008

“Rivera Real Estate” Group Show - Riviera Gallery Brooklyn NYC 2007

“Spanko” - Gallery LeLe Daikanyama Tokyo 2007

“Collabro” curated by Tristan Eaton + Thunderdog Collective - The Showroom Galery NYC 2007

“Yo! What Happened to Peace?” group show - Touring show / book - USA, Europe, Japan 2006 - 2009

“Greedy Gas Guzzlers” - Riviera Gallery Brooklyn NYC 2003

“Greedy Gas Guzzlers” - Zakka Gallery Soho NYC 2003

“Spanky Fun Time” Rocket Art Laboratory - Omotesando Tokyo 1998

“Max Fish Annual Group Show” curated by Danny Hellman - Max Fish New York 1996 + 1997

“Seven” Parco Group Show - Parco Gallery Shibuya Tokyo 1996

“Sendai Shiro Celebration” Live painting - Sendai Japan 1995

“Roast Ram and the Cherry Blossom” (with Yuri Shimojo) Hanae Mori Gallery - Harajuku Tokyo 1994

“Art on the Town” Group show - Kroad Auckland 1990

“Cityscenes” Words and Pictures Gallery - Auckland 1989

“Paintings by Matt” City Limits Cafe - Wellington 1988

“Paintings by Matt” Manawa Gallery - Christchurch 1987

CURATED SHOWS

“Living the Dream” Fuse Gallery NYC 2010

“Native New Yorker” Mike Davison - Riviera Gallery Brooklyn NYC 2008

“Signs of Our Times” Group show - Riviera Gallery Brooklyn NYC 2006

“Val and other places” pictures by Laura Hanifin - Riviera Gallery Brooklyn NYC 2005

“Mounds” Paul McNeil - Riviera Gallery Brooklyn NYC 2005

“Fanatic Voyage” Steve Ellis and crew - Riviera Gallery Brooklyn NYC 2005

“Amnesia Beirut” Matt “Locust” Jones - Riviera Gallery Brooklyn NYC 2004

“Garden of Recreation” Madsaki - Riviera Gallery Brooklyn NYC 2004

“Trespassers Will be Eaten” Tracey Tawhiao + George Nuku - Riviera Gallery Brooklyn NYC 2004

SHOW HISTORY CONTENTS

Self portrait - Acrylic on canvas, 1987

Eeek - Acrylic on wood, 1988.

Beat Box. Paint, card, steel mesh and wire. 1989

Elito Club - Acrylic on mylar, 1989

Guitar Man - Acrylic on canvas, 1989

Straitjacket Fits 12” Single Cover 1989

Man on the Town - Acrylic on wood, 1989.

NYC Streetscene - Acrylic on canvas, 1994

EARLY WORK SAMPLING: