Matthew Wong at Art Gallery of Ontario

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Matthew Wong, “A Dream,” 2019

oil on canvas, 70″ x 80″ (courtesy of Karma, New York. © 2019 Matthew Wong Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS) New York)

Matthew Wong, a self-taught Edmonton artist who died in 2019, is featured in a solo exhibition on view until April at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto. 

Wong was only 35 when he died. The New York Times has described him as “one of the most talented painters of his generation.” Before his death, he was gaining recognition on the international stage. Now, his paintings sell for astronomical prices at auction. 

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Matthew Wong, “Autumn Nocturne,” 2018

oil on canvas, 48″ x 72″ (courtesy of Karma, New York. © 2018 Matthew Wong Foundation /Artists Rights Society (ARS) New York)

His works, which often seek to evoke nostalgia, are also marked by a sense of isolation. “I do believe there is an inherent loneliness or melancholy to much of contemporary life," Wong said in a 2018 interview.  "And on a broader level, I feel my work speaks to this quality, in addition to being a reflection of my thoughts, fascinations and impulses.”

His first solo museum exhibition, Matthew Wong: Blue View, will be on view until April 18. Organized with support from Wong's family, it features 31 paintings and nine works on paper from his final Blue series, completed between 2017 and 2019. 

“Wong’s singular talent produced artworks that are deeply personal and universally appealing,” says the AGO's chief curator Julian Cox. “Drawing inspiration from an array of modern and postmodern painters, he produced thrilling works in oil and gouache that are bold in conception and intricately executed in hypnotic patterns and virtuosic strokes.”

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Matthew Wong, “Starry Night,” 2019

oil on canvas, 60″ x 70″ (courtesy of Karma, New York. © 2019 Matthew Wong Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS) New York)

In the fall, the gallery will hold a Zoom conversation with American artists Soumya Netrabile and Peter Shear, who were friends of Wong. Details about the event will be posted here. 

Source: Art Gallery of Ontario