Timothy Mutzel

Artist Statement

I moved to New York in 1996, enrolling in CUNY to attend the MFA program at Queens College with Benny Andrews. I'm a painter, programmer, and adjunct professor of drawing at SUNY Old Westbury. I'm currently enrolled in a weekly group critique with artist Bridget Mullen through NYC Crit Club.

Painting and drawing comprise the bulk of my work. I see the pieces as visual "theorems" or story-poems made of line, color, shape, texture - frequencies. Because my art has no direct connection to any real thing, the viewer may interpret them as they wish, some of the forms may suggest a literal reading, but not quite, embracing ambiguity at the last moment. This allows for an open-ended interpretation of the work, and, I think, allows the viewer to build their own story from it. I explore imaginary landscapes, channeling subconscious imagery, exploring foliage, animal gestures and textures, horns, swamps etc. Using these "games" I render an internal dialogue that, when combined with the physical, mechanical movement of my body, records a synthesis of muscle memory and imagination on paper or canvas. The raw frequencies of my body and person, generalized in such a way as to be recognizable, and although unique, as relatable as consciousness.