Phillips Latin American Sale Preview & Thomas Monahan Book Signing at Palm Court
Miami, FL – April 21, 2016 – Miami Design District’s Palm Court was packed with art enthusiasts to catch Phillips’ Latin American Sale Preview, the six-day exhibition of more than 30 works of art by Matta, Carmen Herrera, Roberto Obregón, and Jesús Rafael Soto, among other masters in the field. Latin American art can be defined in many ways, with some artists having helped to construct their own countries’ national identities, while others spent their careers abroad participating in international movements. Spanning nearly a century of artistic practice, this exhibition attempts to highlight and celebrate the breadth of this category, bringing together works of art that have backgrounds and influences as interesting as their creators.
In conjunction with the exhibition, Phillips also hosted the book launch of Matta: On the Edge of a Dream by Thomas Monahan, the first international monograph or publication dedicated exclusively to the artist. Published by Skira and edited by Paola Gribaudo and Oksana Salamatina, this important monograph traces the life and work of Matta from his beginnings to his most celebrated works. Matta: On the Edge of a Dream offers an incredibly unique insight into the artist, providing a reflection on Matta from the personal standpoint of his longtime dealer and friend, Thomas Monahan. Monahan has been a champion of Matta’s artwork for over 40 years; in fact, it was a solo exhibition of the artist’s work that christened the Thomas Monahan Fine Art Gallery in 1977. In the book, images of masterpieces by the artist are accompanied by two interviews; the first with Monahan, covering his start in the art world to his friendship with artist. The reader sees Matta’s paintings evolve, hears stories, and understands the artist’s incredible physical and mental energy. The second interview with Matta was conducted by lauded art historian Hans Ulrich Obrist, shortly before the artist’s death.