Vessels
Matt Shlian: back to Artist
Artist Statement
As a paper engineer, my work is rooted in print media, book arts and commercial design. Beginning with an initial fold, a single action causes a transfer of energy to subsequent folds, which ultimately manifest in drawing and three-dimensional forms. I use my engineer skills to create kinetic sculpture which have led to collaborations with scientists at University of Michigan. We work on the nanoscale, translating paper structures to micro folds. Our investigations extend to visualizing cellular division and solar cell development. Researchers see paper engineering as a metaphor for scientific principles; I see their inquiry as a basis for artistic inspiration. In my studio I am a collaborator, explorer and inventor. I begin with a system of folding and at a particular moment the material takes over. Guided by wonder, my work is made because I cannot visualize its final realization; in this way I come to understanding through curiosity.
Artist Biography
Matt Shlian creates mesmerizing paper sculptures by merging intricate hand-folding techniques with digital mapping. Working at the intersection of art and science, Shlian describes himself as a “paper engineer”. Microscopic natural forms and structures like cell membranes inform the patterns of his works.
Matt’s influences are varied and include topics such as solar cell design, protein misfolding, Islamic tile patterning, systematic drawing, architecture, biometrics, and music. He also looks towards musicians, performers, writers, visual artists, producers, makers and thinkers. He has a unique way of “…misunderstanding the world that helps [him] see things often overlooked”.
Matt originally went to school for ceramics but realized early on he was interested in other mediums as well. He received his MFA from the Cranbrook Academy of Art in 2006, the same year he began collaborating with engineers at the University of Michigan to explore the links between origami and 3D nanotechnology.
Shlian has extensively exhibited work across the United States, and he has presented a major show at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington in 2016. His paper compositions are held in collections that include the Art Institute of Chicago and the Drawing Center, and he has received commissions by brands as varied as Apple, Facebook, Supreme, and Sesame Street.
Pricing
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