Matt Keegan 2006
May 11, 2006- June 17, 2006
526 W 26th St
Project Gallery:
Matt Keegan
Nicole Klagsbrun Gallery is pleased to present How to Make a Portrait, a project by
Matt Keegan. The
exhibition will be open May 11th - June 17th, 2006 with an opening reception on Thursday, May 11th from 6
to 8 pm. A second accompanying part of the exhibition will run simultaneously at White Columns from
May 5th - June 10th.
How to Make a Portrait builds upon Keegan’s interest in using snapshots and the experiential as starting
points for his photographic and sculptural works. In the exhibition Keegan focuses on his father, Ed
Keegan, a life insurance salesman, former art handler and accidental actor. Through videos, drawings,
photography, and sculpture, the artist explores identity and his ever-changing perception of his father.
Ed Keegan has previously co-stared in Gerard Byrne’s video Why it’s Time for Imperial Again and was more
recently cast as the ex-husband of actress Martha Plimpton’s character in Síofra Campbell’s film Marvelous,
a selection in the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival. Scenes that briefly feature Keegan’s father were cut from
the final version of the film, but are included in the exhibition. Keegan has made a third video piece,
entitled Making a Video, made up of footage from a day spent with his father. Segments from Byrne and
Campbell’s project, along with Keegan’s video piece, are the foundation of the exhibition.
Keegan is interested in the space found between the fictional roles his father plays in Byrne and
Campbell’s films and the unrehearsed and "real" depiction of his father in his office. Keegan states: "My
father was cast to play the role of Lee Iacocca for Gerry’s Imperial project, but my father has been a
salesman for over 35 years. He was cast as an embittered ex-husband for his role in Marvelous, and he is a
now a less embittered ex-husband. I am interested in the blurred space between these characters and how
they add a layer to the man that I know as my father."
A short 16mm film, focusing on the relationship between two friends of the artist, is also an exercise in
capturing a portrait. Mika and Hanna will be screened at the gallery at the following dates and times: May
20th, May 25th and June 10th from 3 to 6 pm.
Matt Keegan graduated from Columbia University’s MFA program in 2004. His work has been included in
recent group exhibitions at China Art Objects, Los Angeles, Sculpture Center, Long Island City and
D’Amelio Terras, New York. He recently organized Etc., a project composed of 2 group shows and 12 events
featured at Andrew Kreps from September 2005-January 2006. Keegan will exhibit work along with Leslie
Hewitt in a two-person show at Wallspace this June. His annual publication North Drive Press, co-edited by
Sara Greenberger-Rafferty, will be released in June.
Books and DVDs related to artists in this show| Location | | | Gallery | Nicole Klagsbrun Gallery | | Address | 526 W 26th St, #213 New York (Chelsea) NY, 10001 United States | | Phone | 212-243-3335 | | Fax | 212-243-1059 | | Hours | Tue-Sat 10-6 | |
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