Oct 23 - Nov 14 2021

Matthew Fischer: Offertorium

Hudson House, Hudson NY

In Offertorium Matthew Fischer presents a series of hammered aluminum wall works surrounding a tabletop array of stained glass sculptures. Many works contain “coin-slots” as if to accept or ingest offerings.

These works have a religious connotation; Fischer references the devotional object while calling capitalism into question. The money slot symbolizes what is sacred. These works make a demand; and they have the capacity to accept a devotion.

Fischer positions his work as rooted in painting, which focuses on light and color. The stained glass works continue to mix combinations for him as the viewer moves around, like a never ending color study.

Made with Bullseye glass, copper foil and lead solder, these upright forms are reminiscent of neolithic standing stones.

$The glass works absorb and combine refractions of light mixing colors inside their cores.$

The glass works absorb and combine refractions of light mixing colors inside their cores.

Bluefoot, 2021, glass, copper foil, solder, 23 x 8 x 10 inches

Light Stone, 2021, Glass, copper foil, solder, 30.5 x 7 x 11.5 inches

Red of Ertorium, 2021, Bullseye glass, copper foil, lead solder

Open Cover, 2021, Glass, copper foil, solder, 32.5 x 15.5 x 12 inches

The aluminum sentinels surround the glass-liths like a ritual projecting light on them, imbuing them with life.

Fischer makes the wall works by starting with found objects such as birdhouses, cradles and tool boxes; forms onto which he pounds and compresses aluminum sheets.

Calendar, 2020, Aluminium, nails, wooden toolbox, wood panel

Cradle, 2020, Aluminium, screws, wooden cradle, wood panel, 33 x 22 x 16 inches

Birdhouse, 2020, Aluminium, screws, wooden birdhouse, wood panel

Aluminium Tollbox, 2020, Aluminium, screws, wooden toolbox, wood panel, 28 x 26 x 15 inches

Orange Tollbox, 2020, Aluminium, enamel, screws, wooden toolbox, wood panel, 28 x 26 x 15 inches

Matthew Fischer lives and works in New York City. He earned an MFA from Columbia University and a BFA from the University of Wisconsin River Falls. He has shown his work in solo and group exhibitions, including at Jack Tilton Gallery, Junior Projects, Louis B James, Jack Hanley, 247365, Fierman Gallery and The Flag Art Foundation in NYC. He has also exhibited at The Lighthouse Works on Fishers Island, NY, Anderson Ranch Art Center in Snowmass Village, CO and at Left Field Gallery, Los Osos, CA. In 2018 he was a fellow with Shandaken Projects Paint School. He has been an artist in residence at the Lighthouse Works and twice at The Edward F. Albee Foundation in Montauk, NY. His work has been reviewed in The New Yorker and The Brooklyn Rail. He currently teaches painting and drawing at Ethical Culture Fieldston School in the Bronx.