BUIA Gallery is pleased to present Everlasting, an exhibition of new paintings by Matt Jones. Using himself and key figures in his life as subject matter, Jones constructs an implied narrative out of dynamic, boldly colored contemporary portraiture. In canvases large in scale, Jones places his subjects into primary roles and examines these archetypes revealing their common fragilities and strengths. Though working in a powerful, clear, painterly style, Jones does not offer resolution, but a mythologically-based inquiry into his own psyche that is applicable to the world at large.

Through his titling, Matt Jones establishes a direct correlation with standard mythological archetypes. Each painting is treated in multiple images, manifesting his process of painting the same subject repeatedly to learn and uncover its intricacies and impact. Here the somewhat jarring nature of the palette and color combinations lace the work with a palpable, frenetic, restless intensity. It becomes evident that Jones is searching for psychological clarity, peace, and understanding while a journey unfolds before the viewer’s eyes. Andy Warhol, Kippenberger’s attitude, the beautiful vulgarity of a brash George Condo, Georg Baselitz, and a New York Punk rock palette all come to mind when engaging with Jones’ work, but nothing shines through more evidently than the overwhelming sincerity and desire for discovery and understanding at stake in the work.

Matt Jones is a Cooper Union graduate and a three-year gallery artist. His debut two-person exhibition in the spring of 2005 with Kadar Brock received praise in The New York Times by Roberta Smith as well as a fervent reaction by Charlie Finch on Artnet.com. Participating in several shows in New York, Jones received particular attention in The New Yorker in a review by Martha Schwendener for his inclusion in the Quotidian exhibition curated by Thomas Duncan at the gallery last year. We are pleased to announce Everlasting.