Matt Hollis creates abstract/organic, soft sculpture and large scale installations in eye-popping colors and oddly-appealing textures. He has shown work and created installations in galleries all around the Washington D.C area as well as Los Angeles, California where he attended graduate school. He earned a BA in Studio Art from St. Mary’s College of Maryland in 2003. After living and working in his fantastical jungle of a studio in the historic 52 O Street Studios in Washington DC for over 13 years, he relocated to California to earn his MFA at Otis College of Art & Design, graduating with an Academic Excellence award in 2019. Matt now lives in Sarasota, Florida where he is eagerly getting involved with the local art community and has added ceramics to the many media he employs in his practice.
In 2016 Hollis was awarded an Artist Fellowship Grant from the DC Commission of Arts & Humanities. He was also invited to be a visiting artist for a 5-week residency at The Artist House at St. Mary’s College. In 2015 he was 1 of of 3 artists chosen to travel to France for an artistic research trip with Transformer gallery sponsored by the Sister Cities Grant from the DCCAH.
Education:
- M.F.A., Otis College of Art & Design, 2019.
- B.A., Studio Art, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, 2003.
Recent Press:
- “Meet Matt Hollis,” Voyage LA Magazine, LA City Guide, November 27, 2019.
- Jenkins, Mark.”In the Galleries: Tales from the Dark Side — of Canada.” Washington Post, July 21, 2017.
- Jenkins, Mark. “In the Galleries: Spins on ‘The Starry Night,’ from Critical to Cheeky.” Washington Post, May 20, 2016. (Feature image).
- Jenkins, Mark. “In the Galleries: Getting ‘Personal’ at King Street.” Washington Post, November 13, 2015. (Feature image).
- Carberry, Elizabeth. “Five Must-See Artists at the Transformer Annual Silent Auction and Benefit.” East City Art, November 17, 2015.
Grants & Awards:
- Academic Excellence Award, Otis College of Art & Design, 2019.
- Artist Fellowship Grant, DC Commission of Arts & Humanities, 2016.
- Paris “Sister Cities Grant” Artist Research Trip with Transformer Gallery, DC Commission of Arts & Humanities, 2015.
Residencies:
- Resident Artist, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, January 19 – February 22, 2016.
Selected Exhibitions:
2026
- Object/Subject: The Body, Space, and Acts of Transformation, SPAACES, March 28 – May 16
2022
- Cup Show, Space Ten Gallery, March 25 – May 14th
- Transformer20 Retrospective Exhibition, GW Corcoran School of the Arts & Design, November 11 – December 10, 2022
2021
- Solo exhibit, Proxy Gallery: a collaborative project by Annetta Kapon, April 10 – May 10.
- “seeping triangle” (digital zine project sponsored by Transformer), February 10
2020
- “Matt Hollis: organelle,” series of prints created for Transformer FlatFile collection, Oct. 8.
- “Fragile Logic: Matt Hollis x Jessica Powell” (online collaborative project) 7×7 LA, May 28.
2019
- “Offal” (installation), Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Aug. 15 – Sept. 29.
- “(Beyond) Redemption,” Launch LA/Backspace Gallery, Aug. 10 – 24.
- “In Plain Site – MFA Fine Arts Class of 2019,” Bolsky Gallery, Otis College of Art & Design, May 2 – 19.
- “the ecstasy of undoing” MFA Thesis Show, Otis College of Art & Design, March 28 – 31.
2017
- “florilegia: Works of Matt Hollis,” Otis Street Arts Project, July 8 – Aug. 5.
2016
- “Wave of Pollination” (installation), “Transformer Silent Auction @ AU Katzen Arts Center,” Katzen Arts Center, American University, Nov. 19.
- “Good and Plenty,” School 33 Arts Center, Sept. 9 – Oct. 29.
- “Flora DNA” (window display), Coldwell Banker, July 22 – Sept. 7.
- “Sip & Paint Van Gogh’s ‘The Starry Night,’” DC Arts Center, April 29 – May 29.
- “Eternal Spring,” Art Annex, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Feb. 1 – 19.
2015
- “Personal Patterns,” King Street Gallery, Montgomery College, Oct. 22 – Nov. 25.
- “AFP16 Visual Arts Exhibition,” DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Gallery, Aug. 14 – Sept. 30.
- “Matt Hollis: Eternal Spring,” Anacostia Arts Center, March 27 – April 25.
- “Locally Sourced,” Katzen Art Center, American University, Jan. 24 – March 15.
2014
- “sorting stimuli (orderly flora)” (installation/performance), Transformer, August 8-12.
- “Altered Ego,” Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery, June 4 – August 24.
- “Softer, Softest,” Delicious Spectacle, May 30 – June 21.
- “Alchemical Vessels Benefit 2014″ Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery, April 4 – May 16.
- “LOULOUDI Flower / to Flower,” Washington Sculptors Group, The Athenaeum, March 20 – May 4.
2013
- “Art Romp Anacostia,” Anacostia Arts Center, August 23 – Sept 15.
- “Expansions,” Transformer, March 15 – April 20.
2012
- Bikkuri Pop Up Art Show, Oh Fish, Nov. 26 – Dec. 15.
- “hanging garden” (installation), Artomatic 2012, May 18 – June 23.
2011
- “Randi Reiss-McCormack & Matt Hollis” (installation in Project Space), Harmon Art Lab, Sept. 10 – Oct. 1.
- “from your representatives, with love” (set pieces & costumes), Taffety Punk Theatre Co., May 5 – 7.
2010
- “lotus descending,” “IN-FLUX: Window Peek-Show,” Joan Hisaoka Gallery, September 3 – 23.
- “incubator” (installation), Arts On N Festival, August 14 & 15.
- “Constructed Place,” Annmarie Garden, March 20 – May 8.
2009
- “birth of a galaxy,” Artomatic 2009, May 29 – July 5.
2008
- “Last Stand,” Artomatic 2008, May 9 – June 15.
- “The End of Nature,” The Warehouse, April 11 – May 4.
- “Peace NOW,” The Warehouse, Feb. 22 – April 6.
2007
- “Matt Hollis: everything is possible all the time,” Longview Gallery, Jan. 15 – Feb. 5.
- Artomatic 2007, April 13 – May 20.
2006
- “Abstract Art,” MOCA DC, Feb. 3 – 24.
2005
- “Art in Transition,” City of Silver Spring, May 21 – June 19.
- “Queering Sight: Queer Insight,” The Warehouse, June 3 – 26.
- “1460 Wall Mountables,” DC Arts Center, July 29 – Sept. 7.
- “Where is the Peace?” The Warehouse, Sept. 8 – Oct. 2.
- “Hey, Is That a Boy or a Girl? Artists Look at Gender,”
The Warehouse, Nov. 4 – Dec. 4.
2004
- Artomatic 2004, Nov. 12 – Dec. 5.
- “1460 Wall Mountables,” DC Arts Center, July 16 – Aug. 22.