AXOM Gallery is pleased to be hosting an Artist Talk by Matthew Langley, who will discuss his philosophy and approach to his paintings and the techniques he employs such as the use of cold wax medium.

Langley continues the legacy of the Washington (D.C) Color School, where he studied with Gene Davis at the Corcoran School of Art.  Davis, along with other notables; Morris Louis, Kenneth Noland, Paul Reed, Anne Truitt and Sam Gilliam became known as the group called the ‘Washington Color School, an evolution  of the abstract expressionist movement.

Serendipitously, Matthew Langley’s exhibition at AXOM Gallery coincides with the Memorial Art Gallery’s recent acquisition of a painting by Sam Gilliam.   Interestingly, Dr. Jonathan Binstock, the MAG’s new director, wrote his doctoral dissertation on Sam Gilliam.

Langley’s paintings draw easy comparisons to latter day abstract expressionist titans, yet his work is not derivative.

His minimalist paintings are akin to haiku poetry that focuses on simplicity, intensity and directness of expression.

Matthew Langley was born in Alexandria, Virginia and studied at Virginia Commonwealth University and received a BFA from The Corcoran School of Art.  His work has been exhibited internationally and is included in major collections in the US such as Ernst and Young, DC Commission for the Art and Humanities, MacAndrews & Forbes and The Doris Patz Collection (University of Maryland). Recent exhibitions include; Blank Space (New York, NY), The Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art and The Delaplaine Arts Center (Frederick, MD). Upcoming exhibitions include; Susan Calloway Gallery (Washington, DC) and DM Contemporary (NYC).  Mr. Langley’s artwork has been covered in publications such as Art in America, The Washington Post, The Washington Citypaper and news sources such as National Public Radio.  He currently lives and works in NYC.