Ratio 3 is pleased to announce an exhibition of new sculpture by Matt Paweski. For his first solo exhibition with Ratio 3, Paweski has produced a series of works that reference furniture design. Familiar structures appear throughout Paweski’s sculptures, yet the artist’s hand and intuition undermine the practical considerations of furniture construction. Each sculpture is a hybrid of domestic objects and organic forms.
On first view, the works comprising this exhibition present seemingly functional surfaces and edges. Constructed of wood and aluminum, the sculptures evoke tables, sconces, and shelves, each apparently assembled and painted mechanically. On closer examination, the sculptures begin to appear both rigid and organic; brushstrokes create wavering, layered planes, and rivets set at regular intervals recall industrial assembly. Right angles and uniform surfaces give way to voids and curvilinear cuts that evoke silhouettes of leaves, waves, and ripples.
By altering design details that typically prioritize utility, Paweski produces objects that seem functional and recognizable, while remaining aesthetic and personal. The sculptures borrow from the visual language of domestic objects, but through flourish and idiosyncrasy, they avoid familiarity. The works are, in the artist’s words, “...like setting out to build a table, but only ever working on the curved nub at the bottom of a leg and then moving on.”
Matt Paweski (b. 1980, Detroit, Michigan) lives and works in Los Angeles. He earned his BFA at Arizona State University and his MFA at ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California. Paweski’s work has been included in recent group exhibitions at Santa Monica College; Wallspace, New York; and Cherry and Martin, Los Angeles. Paweski has had solo exhibitions with Herald St, London; and South Willard, Los Angeles. This is his first exhibition with Ratio 3.

Opening reception: Friday, May 20, 6 – 8pm

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