The Bonfoey Gallery is pleased to present new works by Anthony Mastromatteo, Frank Oriti, and Michael Zigmond in an exhibition titled The New Real. This stunning exhibition will be on view in our street level gallery October 24 through November 29, 2014. An opening reception with the artists will be held at the gallery Friday, October 24^th, from 5-8 pm.

Anthony Mastromatteo’s paintings center on the portrayal of things. He is a realist, inclined toward trompe l’oeil painting, and wants his depictions of the “stuff” of everyday suburban reality to be a portal to the ineffable. He was born in Akron, Ohio, a suburban reality that he has come to accept, and which he makes central to his artistic endeavors. His goal is to impart upon the viewer a moving, memorable aesthetic experience. He received his B.A in Art History from Princeton University.

Frank Oriti was born and raised in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio. He earned his B.F.A. from Bowling Green State University in two-dimensional studies in 2006, and his M.F.A in painting in 2011. His work examines the blue collar culture of individuals returning to hometowns that they have attempted to escape. His work asks the questions, “What has my life become?” and “What will everyone think of me now?” A psychological state of “settling” is adeptly emblazoned across each individual’s face. There is a palpable portrayal of a connect and disconnect between the suburban landscapes and its residents. Frank Oriti has been featured in the New York Times, and was the recipient of the 2013 Cleveland Arts Prize Emerging Artist Award.

Michael Zigmond was born in Sandusky, Ohio and earned his B.F.A from Bowling Green State University. His work created for The New Real marks a shift towards smaller, more intimate still lifes that emphasize fun or whimsical qualities. This series captures his love of the mash up of high and low culture elements. He is not painting out of a sense of nostalgia but rather it’s the act of play that he finds so fascinating and relevant to creation.

The artists are led by a response to their past and its effect upon their present and the future. Where one comes from has a profound effect on the art that they create. They have grown as artists and this exhibition shows the transformation an artist undertakes when examining one’s past. Though each artist has made a conscious decision to portray differing subjects, they all do with a deft touch that is not only apparent in the quality of the work but in the demand that it creates. Each artist is widely collected throughout the United States and the world.

For more information about Anthony Mastromatteo, Frank Oriti, Michael Zigmond: The New Real, or upcoming exhibitions, please contact The Bonfoey Gallery, 216.621.0178, or visit the company web site atwww.bonfoey.com

Anthony Mastromatteo, Frank Oriti, Michael Zigmond: The New Real: October 24 – November 29, 2014.

Opening reception 5-8 pm Friday, October 24

Bonfoey Gallery

1710 Euclid Avenue

Cleveland, Ohio 44114

bonfoey.com

216.621.0178