11th Biennial Alexander Rutsch Award Winner
MATTHEW COLE

Pelham Art Center is pleased to announce Matthew Cole as the winner of the 11th Biennial Alexander Rutsch Award for Painting. A solo exhibition of paintings by Matthew Cole is on view May 15-June 26th at Pelham Art Center. The exhibition also includes a selection of original works by Alexander Rutsch.

Matthew Cole is a New Jersey born artist who lives and works in New York City and Paris, France. He received his BFA from Temple University (Philadelphia, PA) in 2010, and has exhibited in galleries in New York City, Paris, Philadelphia, and Cortona, Italy. Cole completed a 2018 artist residency in Okayama, Japan, and was the 2020 Artist in Residence at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Tucson, AZ.

Cole employs traditional painting and preliminary printmaking methods to interpret memories of actual and subconscious events – amalgamations of real life and fantasy, often stemming from profound personal experiences. The processes of layering and distorting are instrumental in conveying emotion in his work. The artist uses composite imagery to represent the fragmented nature of memory, narrated through personal as well as familiar references from art history.

Matthew Cole was selected for the 2021 Alexander Rutsch Award from among eight finalists and 730 total applicants nationwide. The judging panel for the 11th Biennial Rutsch Award was comprised of a Rutsch family member, Pelham Art Center affiliates, and three guest jurors: Krista Scenna, Independent Curator and Owner of Ground Floor Gallery; Shazzi Thomas, Director of The Painting Center; and Larry Ossei-Mensah, Curator and Co-Founder of ARTNOIR.

The 2021 Alexander Rutsch Award finalists include: Jessica Alazraki, Marietta Patricia Leis , Olivia Baldwin, Sky Pape, Justin Tyler Bryant, Jesse Wright, and Kyle Hackett. These exemplary artists represent a diverse range of perspective and artistic approach.

Events – Free and Open to All
In-Gallery Opening Reception: Saturday, May 15th 1:00-4:00pm (Rutsch Award Presentation @ 2:00PM)
Virtual Opening Reception: Thursday, May 20th 6:00pm
Matthew Cole Virtual Studio Visit: Monday, June 14th 6:00pm