Matt Bahen is an artist living and working in Toronto. Bahen’s primary influence is literature. using an impasto technique of thick oil paint, he strives to interpret the power of metaphor and allegory with paint. The textured surfaces and stark compositions are at once unsettling and highly engaging. Using various motifs including water, fire and animals, Bahen constructs individual narratives that remain in a state of perpetual tension. Most recently Bahen has been working on a series of landscape paintings utilizing the literary device of the enchanted forest as a metaphor for our changing climate.
Matt Bahen was born in 1979 and grew up in Schomberg Ontario. He recieved his BFA from the Ontario College of Art and Design University in 2002. In 2013 his exhibition Gravity’s Faith was held at the MacLaren Art Centre in Barrie. In 2022 his exhibition There is Something Happening in the Valley was held at the the Glenhyrst Art Gallery in Brantford Ontario. Bahen is represented in Toronto by Nicholas Metivier Gallery, In New York By Claire Oliver Gallery, and in Edmonton by Peter Robertson Gallery.
Email: matt@mattbahen.com
https://www.instagram.com/matt_bahen/
New York
Claire Oliver Gallery
2288 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd
New York NY 10030
Phone: 212.929.5949
Email: Info@ClaireOliver.com
Web: www.ClaireOliver.com
Toronto
Nicholas Metivier Gallery
190 Richmond St East
Toronto Ontario Canada M5A 1P1
Phone: 416.205.9000
Email: info@metiviergallery.com
Web: www.metiviergallery.com
Edmonton
Peter Robertson Gallery
12323_104 Ave
Edmonton Alberta Canada T5N 0V4
Phone: 780.455.7479
Email: info@probertsongallery.com
Web: www.probertsongallery.com
C.V.
Solo Exhibition
2022
There is Something Happening in the Valley, Glenhyrst Art Gallery, Brantford Ontario
As Though It Were of some Other Order, Peter Robertson Gallery, Edmonton Alberta
2021
The Strange Garden, Nicholas Metivier Gallery, Toronto Ontario
2019
The Promise the Promise, Nicholas Metivier Gallery, Toronto Ontario 2017
Many Feet Have Crossed This Stream, Nicholas Metivier Gallery, Toronto Ontario 2015 The Curve of the Earth, Claire Oliver Gallery, New York, New York Introducing Matt Bahen, Claire Oliver Gallery, New York, New York Ark, LE Gallery, Toronto Ontario 2014
· Sometimes Comes the Mother, Sometimes the Wolf, Munch Gallery, New York, New York
2013
· Striking Fire Out of the Rock, LE Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
· Gravity’s Faith, The MacLaren Art Centre, Barrie Ontario
2012
· The Weight of Light, Munch Gallery, New York, New York
· After Wolves, Le Gallery, Toronto Ontario
2010
· Run with the Hunted, Moore Gallery, Toronto Ontario
2008
· The River, Moore Gallery, Toronto Ontario
2007
· Marlow, Moore Gallery, Toronto Ontario
2006
· God and Country, Hampden Gallery University of Massachusetts, Boston, Massachusetts
· No Picture, LE Gallery, Toronto Ontario
2005
· Straw Dogs, Moore Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
2004
· Fatal Surveillance, A Space, Toronto, Ontario
2002
· Run with the Culture Gun, S.P.I.N. Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
· Terminal Playback, Gallery 401, Toronto, Ontario
2001
· The Raphaels’ Annual Extravaganza, Toronto, Ontario
· Direct Access, Gallery 401, Toronto, Ontario
Selected Group Exhibitions
2021
Seeing With Memory, Nicholas Metivier Gallery, Toronto Ontario
On the Wind Peter Robertson Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta
2019
Landscape as Muse, Nicholas Metivier Gallery, Toronto Ontario
2018
The Big Picture, Nicholas Metivier Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
2017
Season Preview, Nicholas Metivier Gallery, Toronto Ontario
Summertime Cookout, Claire Oliver Gallery, New York, New York
2016 My Landscape, Nicholas Metivier Gallery, Toronto Ontario
2014
· Selected Works, Studio 21, Halifax, Nova Scotia
7 Toronto Painters, Galerie BAC, Montreal, Quebec
2013
· Gallery Artists, Munch Gallery, New York, New York
2012
· 60 Painters, Humber College School of Arts and Media, Toronto Ontario
2011
· Introducing Matt Bahen and Katie Pretti, James Baird Gallery, Pouch Cove Nfld
· PooL International Art Fair, New York, New York
2010
· Merge, Art Gallery of Ontario art rental and sales gallery, Toronto Ontario
2006
·God and Country, Harcourt House, Edmonton, Alberta
· Winter Show, Moore Gallery, Toronto Ontario
2005
· Summer Show, Moore Gallery, Toronto Ontario
2004
· ARC, Festival for Human Rights in Canada, Toronto Ontario
· Summer Show, Moore Gallery, Toronto Ontario
· Mix Magazine Show, Mind Control, Toronto Ontario
· A Space Windows, Collaboration with John Scott, A Space, Toronto Ontario
· New York Art Expo, New York, New York
·Thought Crimez, London Fog Building, Toronto, Ontario
·Thought Crimez, Zero to One, Kitchener, Ontario
· Gallery Artists, Moore Gallery, Toronto Ontario
2003
· Team Apocalypse, Project for C magazine summer 2003 issue
· Alabama International Art Fair, Birmingham, Alabama
· Drawing Attention, S.P.I.N. Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
· The Annual Nervous Breakdown, Zero to One Gallery, Kitchener, Ontario
· Toronto Social Forum, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario
2002
· Collaboration – The 3rd Montreal Biennale John Scott & Team Apocalypse, Montreal, Quebec
· T.I.A.F. (3rdToronto International Art fair), Metro Convention Centre, Toronto, Ontario
· H.Y.P.E. (Graffiti Artist), Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario
· Juggernaught Cocktail, Angell Gallery Toronto, Ontario
· Annual Graduate Exhibition O.C.A.D, Toronto, Ontario
· Go West, S.P.I.N. Gallery (in conjunction with O.C.A.D./ Thesis Exhibition), Toronto, Ontario
2001
· And Infinite Justice for All, Art System, Toronto, Ontario
· A Dark Wave, Art System, Toronto, Ontario
· Mini Me, S.P.I.N. Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
· Hell in a Rain Slicker, the O. C. A.D. Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
· The Annual Figure Drawing and Painting Exposition, Atrium Gallery Café, O.C.A.D., Toronto, Ontario
· Bodies of Artifice, Atrium Gallery Café, O.C.A.D., Toronto, Ontario
2000
· Triptych, Atrium Gallery Café, Atrium Gallery Café, O.C.A.D., Toronto, Ontario· Testosterone: The Man Show, Art System, Toronto, Ontario
· Utopia A.D, Art System, Toronto, Ontario
· The Annual O.C.A.D. Student Exhibition, Toronto, Ontario
Awards
2002
· O.C.A.D. – Figure Drawing + Painting Award
2001
· The Hungarian Helcion Society Scholarship of Excellence in Drawing and Painting
2000
· The Sully Corth Memorial Fund Scholarship
Publications
2022
Canadian Art Forecast< Dooley, Tatum, “On Climate and Matt Bahen’s Paintings”, Feb 12. 2022
2021
Galleries West, Matejko, Agnieszka,” On the Wind” May 17, 2021
2019
Forbes, Sayej, Nadja, “Matt Bahen’s Paintings Tap into Climate Change”, November 24, 2019
Forbes, “What to See and Snag at Toronto’s Foremost Art Fair”, October 26, 2019
2017
Blouin Artinfo, “Matt Bahen: Many Feet Have Crossed This Stream at Nicholas Metivier Gallery”, November 21, 2017
2015
Tussle Magazine, Hourne-Gaul, “Ark, an Interview with Matt Bahen”, March 15, 2015
2014
· Whitehot magazine, Sarah Elise Hall, http://whitehotmagazine.com/articles/matt-bahen-munch-gallery/2979
· The Chronicle Herald, Elissa Bernard, June 12, 2014, http://thechronicleherald.ca/artslife/1214354-vandepolder-bahen-reinvent-landscape#.U5sk-ojpSg4.email
2013
· Magenta Magazine, Carol-Ann Ryan, Summer 2013, http://www.magentamagazine.com/13/exhibition-reviews/matt-bahen
· Studio Beat, http://www.studio-beat.com/artists/matt-bahen-painter/
2012
· The Globe + Mail, R. M. Vaughan, March 31, 2012
· Culture Catch.com, Bradley Rubenstien, http://culturecatch.com/art/matt-bahen, September 13, 2012
· Hyperallergic.com, Allison Meier, http://hyperallergic.com/57061/thomas-allen-matt-bahen-valerie-hegarty/, September 20, 2012
· ARTE FUSE, arte fuse, http://artefuse.com/2012/09/munch-gallery-shares-their-latest-installation/, September 26, 2012
· Culture Grinder.com, Nicole Casamento, http://culturegrinder.com/post/culture-grinder-of-the-month-matt-bahen/, September 27, 2012
2010
· Arkylic,com, Randy Gladman, Matt Bahen at Moore Gallery, April 28, 2010
2008
· The Globe and Mail, Gary Michael Dault, Gallery Going, December 20, 2008
· Phil Irish.com, Unspeakable History Painting, Phil Irish, December 16, 2008
2007
· The Globe and Mail, Gary Michael Dault, Gallery Going, March 17, 2007
2006
· Canadian Art, Sally Mckay, “Matt Bahen Le. Gallery Toronto”, Summer 2006, Volume 23 Number 2
· Globe and Mail, Gary Michel Dault, “Matt Bahen at Le Gallery”, February 11, 2006
2004
· Bits, Tomo Lennon, “Fatal Surveillance”, May 18, 2004
· Globe and Mail, Gary Michael Dault, “Predator Prey and Sensuous Paint”, May 22, 2004
· Mix Magazine, Artist Profile, Spring Issue
· Shift Japan, www.shiftjpg.org, Mickey Richardson, Thoughtcrimez
2002
· NOW Magazine, “Best Show of the Year” (Best Art Space- S.P.I.N. Gallery) October issue
· CBC Evening News, (Artist Profile) – < “Juggernaught Cocktail” >, July
· NOW Magazine, Thomas Hirschman, <“Juggernaught Cocktail”>, August issue
2001
· The Ottawa Sun, Becker, Jeannie, “The Military in Fashion”, July 24, 2001
2000
· The National Post, Buttery, Helen, “Art with a Message”, February 24, 2000
· Catholic New Times, Jalonen, Dean, “Arts and Culture”, October 21, 2000
Collections
·Art Gallery of Hamilton, Hamilton Ontario
CIBC, Toronto Ontario
Sunlife Finacial, Toronto Ontario
Strikeman Elliott LLP, Toronto Ontario
Ontario College of Art and Design, Toronto, Ontario
· BMO Financial Group, Toronto Ontario
· The Canadian National Landscaping Association Head Office, Milton, Ontario
· Private Collection