DJ Matheny

Artist Statement

Whether portraits or landscapes, my work involves an investigation of light as a means of expressing the ephemeral nature of reality and the transformative potential encounters with darkness.
My dark portraits of individuals explore the use of chiaroscuro to enhance the expression of the themes of longing, loss, and grief with the potential for hope and spiritual transformation. Many of the compositions, employing deep shadows and directional light to evoke a somber mood, include symbols—some highly personal and others more widely accessible.

The later portraits, which investigate the Greek myth of Perse phone and Demeter, provide a vehicle for continuing the exploration of similar themes but with expanded references to the universal themes of loss and grief, the cycle of life and death and the loss of innocence. Choosing to paint images in this mythical world affords the artistic opportunity to blend unusual lighting effects with fantasy and reality to create a more magical reality.