Midwest Work Ethic

Signage Install – Rogues Gallery – Uninvited Guests

msharp — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 01:35:04 +0000

In late February, I was asked by my buddy Rufio to do a sign/art install at his recently opened bar & gallery. I knew what the visual of the bar was and I jumped at the chance to put my work up. Rogues Gallery is located in Milwaukee, WI and has the vibe of a vintage tavern that is tucked in a little industrial town…almost as if it’s trapped in time. Machine parts, industrial crates and cage-lights with Edison bulbs fill the entire space. So, David Rettker, Joey Potts and myself all decided to sling some work on the walls…all of us sold work and I even got commissioned to do some site-specific signage for the bar. I am really looking forward to going back and doing a solo show sometime in the future. The atmosphere at Rogues Gallery lends itself well to the type of imagery that I paint.

Elixer Of Eternal Youth.

msharp — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 18:06:17 +0000

In the summer of 2011, Matthew Ryan Sharp was contacted to handle the album artwork for local band: About Nothin’. Having never created work for an album cover, the artist cites this as a major personal accomplishment. The single off the album as well as the E.P. itself was going to be titled: Elixer Of Eternal Youth. The concept was to have a greasy, turn of the century – Snake Oil Salesman barking a bout a cure all tonic. The final illustration is located above without the typography. Both the band as well as the artist were pleased with the final result.

Hand Painted Signage. a dying form.

msharp — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:38:29 +0000

For the past 6 months, artist Matthew Ryan Sharp has been experimenting with traditional sign painting. Using One-Shot Lettering Enamel, Lettering Quills, One-Stroke Liners and Pin-Striping Brushes in order to create signage/advertising of days-gone-by. Creating templates and typographic solutions digitally is the first step in the signage process, followed by carbon transferring and final lettering.

The “Up & Left” exhibition that was just held in Milwaukee, WI in November 2011 was the first exhibition where the artist decided to feature a large body of these hand painted signage. A portion of the install is featured in the above image.

All Dressed Up – show overview.

msharp — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:21:53 +0000

All Dressed Up With No Place To Go – Fictional tales of chislers & ballyhoo on the American midway was the first exhibition from artist Matthew Ryan Sharp that had a total cohesive and uniform theme. Planned, designed and created over the span of a year, this was the artists first attempt at creating something more than just “pictures on walls”. This exhibition also marked the beginning relationship/creative partnership between Matthew Ryan Sharp and Midwestern Traveling Amusement.

Up & Left. A Conceptual Exhibition.

msharp — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:44:16 +0000

October 2011, will mark the 2nd time that artist Matthew Ryan Sharp has produced an exhibition for HotPop Gallery in Milwaukee, WI. This time, rather than go it alone, the artist decided to team up with Pittsburgh based artist Ron Copeland for a complete, environmental exhibition experience. Below is the show synopsis:

Up & Left

A Conceptual Exhibition / Installation from Matthew Ryan Sharp & Ron Copeland

Imagine walking into a space that was recently occupied by a group of strangers but now, the only thing remaining is a faint tobacco smell and scattered personal articles left behind due to an abrupt force of change.

Temporary occupation and sudden abandonment is what Up & Left will capture with this exhibition and installation. Much like a traveling-gypsy carnival or a burned-out Midwestern storefront, the exhibition that the artists have created is focusing on themes of desolation, decay, vintage advertisements, letterforms and promotional characters of days gone by. This will give the gallery patrons equal feeling adoration and restlessness. Here one minute…gone the next.

Aged and weathered from dirt and neglect, Up & Left creates an environment for the viewer to be saturated in. By having a mixture of earth-tone colors, found objects and timeless collections, the viewer is left with the ultimate question? What happened here? Where is everyone? It’s as if they just…Up & Left.

The Show Must Go On.

msharp — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:53:05 +0000

In August 2011, artist Matthew Ryan Sharp had his first solo exhibition on the West Coast. Screaming Sky Gallery in Portland, OR was the host for “The Show Must Go On”. Theis was the 2nd stop for the Midwestern Traveling Carnival-Fun Show and was sponsored in part by Midwestern Traveling Amusement. The opening reception took place during LAST THURSDAY, in which the streets are filled with artists, patrons, drunkards & random strange gypsy folks attempting to sell their wares. The show & reception was considered an overwhelming success by all parties that were involved.

All Dressed Up With No Place To Go.

msharp — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 17:22:47 +0000

In May 2011, artist Matthew Ryan Sharp had his first solo exhibition in Chicago, IL. After exhibiting across the U.S…finally a show had been set up for home turf. Wanting to do something large scale and involved, the artist chose to approach OhNo!Doom Gallery since they held the perfect space. The concept of the exhibition was simple: tie together the similar elements of an art exhibition and carnival…create an environment and entertain the public visually.

Matthew Ryan Sharp X Circus Punks {2006}

msharp — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:41:46 +0000

In the fall of 2006, artist Matthew Ryan Sharp was approached by Paul Cruikshank and Circus Punks to make customized product history. The artists prolific approach to customizing, along with the speed & quality level of the commishioned customs prompted the owner to get in touch. The goal was to create 30, nearly identical, hand-painted custom Circus Punks for a Halloween release. The offer was accepted, the blank Punks shipped and in just 25 days all the customs were complete. The release was an instant hit and actually SOLD OUT before the artist even got the blanks to begin painting due to a feverous pre-sale. The artist marks this as a major milestone and starting point for his creative career.

Work Hard – Never Settle.

msharp — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 23:44:30 +0000

This is the first post from the new site of Matthew Ryan Sharp. Most of you visiting this site know the artist or his work. If this is your first time, please look around, enjoy the work & stories that go along with some of the assemblages. Stop back often for exhibition updates & new works.