Matthew Hansel

Matthew Hansel (B. 1977. Lives and works in Brooklyn) deconstructs and reimagines historical painting, transforming canvases into surreal and immersive artworks. Combining elements from classical art, distorted cartoons, and trompe l’oeil figures, Hansel’s creations push the boundaries of visual absurdity and challenge traditional perspectives. His paintings are fictitious portrayals of ceremonies linked to imagined historic events, reflecting our evolving understanding of communal activities shaped by history.

Matthew Hansel’s work wrestles with the concept of the self and the human desire to be seen and remembered. He combines the rigor of traditional European painting with the conceits of 20th century conceptual art. The artist painstakingly recreates self-portraits of historically significant artists. Thinking of his works as re-enactments, Hansel juxtaposes past and present. By recreating the image of the artist who once was, Hansel attaches his own intentions to that of the artist. He duplicates, doubles, mirrors and inserts himself into the works. Using a mix of humor and pathos, Hansel asks us to recognize the way we see ourselves through others.