Matt Smith Chavez
Volume: Where do you live / where do you work?
Matt Smith Chavez: I live on Mission Street in San Francisco, right at the boundary of Bernal Heights and a neighborhood called College Hill, which is an actual hill. My place is within a cluster of latino restaurants and corner shops and a couple of blocks from a beautiful park called Holly Park. I have a live/work space in an old warehouse that has been occupied by artists for over 30 years. There’s a bakery in the first floor and 6 studio spaces in the second floor.
Volume: Can you give a quick description of your work space?
MSC: My space is 900 square feet, two floors. Me and wife use the second floor as a living room and guest room and my studio space is on the first floor by the kitchen. There’s a separate bedroom which is pretty cozy. And there’s a huge north facing window.
Volume: What’s your day to day studio schedule like?
MSC: I work from 4:00 to 8pm on weekdays, so I’m usually in the studio from the morning until 4:05pm. I’m late to work just about every day. On a good day I’m working in the studio by 9am but usually it’s 10 or 11am. Sometimes when I’m feeling extra motivated I’ll come home from work at 8pm and put in a couple of hours of studio work before going to sleep. Then I get up and do it all over again.
Volume: Who’s work have you been looking at lately?
MSC: I’ve been into the work of a couple of young euro painters – Leo Gabin, Jon Pilkington, Jonas Lund. Also been into Yevgeniya Baras, Erika Ranee, Ryan Nord Kitchen.
Volume: What museums or galleries do you visit regularly?
MSC: I tend to keep it all close to my house, so I usually don’t leave SF. Ratio 3, Jessica Silverman, Altman Siegel are a couple of my favorites. And the galleries at Minnesota Street Project. Just got a membership to the newly reopened SFMOMA as a gift so I’ll be spending lots of time there too.
Volume: What was the last show you saw in person that impacted your work?
MSC: “Ten Paintings” by Laura Owens at the Wattis. Incredible show.
Volume: What do you do when you’re not working, and how does that impact the artwork that you make? What influences your practice outside of the studio?
MSC: I teach a photography class online for the University of Maryland University College and I think that keeps me focused on photography and digital media a lot of the time. So that tends to find it’s way into my work. Sounds weird but I also think that the act of being on my phone influences my work – Facebook, Instagram, and all the visual information I’m scrolling through all day. And rap music. I listen to Kool AD 24/7. I’d like to find his address somehow so I can mail him one of my paintings.
Volume: Any upcoming projects or residencies in the near future?
MSC: I’m in the upcoming Pacific Coast issue of New American Paintings, which I’m pretty excited about. The issue is coming out in December. I’m also in a group show at Tiger Strikes Asteroid in New York in December as well.
For more images or information on Matt’s work please visit mattsmithchavez.com