Exhibits feature Anthony Mastromatteo and Paolo Pelosini

The Galleries at Cleveland State University will open its 2019 season with exhibits by two prominent contemporary artists who use their creative output to explore the nature of various objects and their impact on society. Akron-based painter Anthony Mastromatteo’s series, Incurably Atomic, presents 1-inch square realistic true-scale paintings of tiny objects and a series of visual poems, while Italian sculptor Paolo Pelosini’sAngels and Daemonsfeatures figurative, altered found-metal sculptures.

The exhibits run from Friday, January 18 through Saturday, February 23.  An opening night event featuring talks from both artists will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., January 18.

Anthony Mastromatteo earned a bachelor’s degree in art history from Princeton University in 1992, which led to a five-year position at Christie’s auction house in New York City. As his exposure to the art world expanded, he eventually decided to study the practice of art at the Art Students League in New York City, and became a full-time artist in 2002. Since then he has earned national notice for his realistic miniatures which explore the past, present and future of American culture. He has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions at museums and galleries across the country and has also taught art at Hiram College.

Paolo Pelosini creates destructivist sculpture utilizing found materials to seek a different kind of truth about objects and their meaning. He previously served as an instructor at the Cleveland Institute of Art and is now based in New York City. Pelosini’s art has been included in numerous museums and exhibitions around the world including the Venice Biennial and the Liverpool Biennial.

The Galleries at CSU are located in the historic Cowell & Hubbard Building at the corner of Euclid Avenue and East 13th Street, in the heart of Playhouse Square and the newly developed CSU Arts Campus. The Galleries seek to educate, edify, and involve all of our diverse audiences by presenting exhibitions and related programs that promote the understanding of art and its relationship to society. Admission is free and the hours of operation are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 12:00 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.