Matt Sesow

BIOGRAPHY (Matt Sesow):

∑ 1966: Born in Omaha, Nebraska September 10, of American parents.
∑ 1974: Struck by a landing airplane near rural Nebraska home. Arm severed by propeller, re-attached at hospital, dominant hand amputated by doctors.
∑ 1980: Traveled to Newcastle, England where he participated in disabled olympics on US team.
∑ 1985/88: Left home to attend college in Oklahoma, received scholarship from Mensa society. Attained a BS degree in computer/software engineering. Began to make drawings and created/designed advertising for university; did not attend art school, no painting training/classes. Worked as radio DJ.
∑ 1989/92: Moved to Washington, DC; worked in an office at IBM as software engineer.
∑ 1993: Began painting in oils; painting on weekends and evenings; works inspired by childhood trauma. First short film, 'Seize the Day', completed.
∑ 1994: Short films by Sesow shown at Washington Project for the Arts group exhibition and selected for DC Psychtronic Film Society exhibition.
∑ 1995: Sold 14 paintings in one afternoon on streets of Georgetown; first time paintings by Sesow seen in public; Signed five year contract to be represented exclusively by art agent who bought some paintings that day. Traveled to and painted in Mexico and Belize (arrested in Kansas, completed 'Holiday in Kansas').
∑ 1996: First group exhibition at 'State of the Union' gallery in Washington, DC. Lectured at Georgetown University on his short films. Short film 'The Box' wins 'Best Experimental Film Award' from exhibition sponsored by Kaleidospace in LA, California.
∑ 1997: Moved to San Jose, California and began painting full time. Group exhibitions at San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, and San Jose Art League. Traveled to and painted in China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore.
∑ 1998: Married, worked briefly in computer field. Traveled to the Solomon Islands as a Peace Corps volunteer; painted using acrylics and oils.
∑ 1999: Returned to Washington, DC, divorced, worked briefly in the computer field. Interviewed by Brutarian Magazine.
∑ 2000: Purchased and moved into painting studio in DC. Began painting at feverish pace and working full-time as an artist.
∑ 2001: First solo show at Corcoran Museum in Washington, DC: 45 works on display. Began self-representing and fired his art agent.
∑ 2002: February: lived for one month in Sofia, Bulgaria; painted using acrylics. Sold approximately 700 works during the year. List of shows/awards detailed below.
∑ 2003: June: selected by jury for first artist residency in Costa Rica; painted using oils and acrylics. July: conceived and began ’31 days in July’ project. August: Painted set for Hollywood play. September: awarded ‘best artist’ at annual Adams Morgan festival. October: guest artist at Kentuck Festival.
∑ 2004: First New York City solo show at ‘big cat gallery’ in east village. First major exhibition at American Visionary Museum in Baltimore (3 paintings selected)

Matt Sesow now works and lives in Washington, DC as an independent full-time artist.