Joanne Mattera
Artist Statement:
There are two constants in my work: saturated color and reductive composition. Partly tongue in cheek (but only partly), I call my aesthetic Lush Minimalism. I have been mining this vein for years, intrigued by how even small changes of material or scale can effectuate surprising results. Each series gets its own set of variations: a horizontally divided field, or a band of color, or a border that creates a chromatic call and response between field and edge. Thick paint contributes materiality; a repeated horizontal line, scribed or painted, adds physical depth or optical tang. While I usually work within the compactness of a square, I may attenuate the proportions vertically.
My practice includes writing and curating. My current interest in how ethnicity shapes creative expression resulted in the 2023 book, Italianità: Contemporary Art Inspired by the Italian Immigrant Experience (Well-Fed Artist Press), which has developed into an ongoing series of exhibitions, A Legacy of Making.
Artist Biography:
Joanne Mattera’s paintings and works on paper are in collections including the Montclair Art Museum, New Britain Museum of American Art, the State University at Albany’s University Collections, the U.S. State Department, and institutional and private collections internationally.
Joanne has had solo shows in New York City at Stephen Haller (1995), OK Harris (1996, 2007), and Odetta (2019). Her 46th career solo took place in 2025 at Arden Gallery, Boston, where she has been represented for 25 years. She is also represented by Addington Gallery, Chicago; Adler & Co., San Francisco; Kenise Barnes, Kent, Connecticut; and Marcia Wood, Atlanta.
Curatorial efforts include Luxe, Calme et Volupté, Marcia Wood, 2007; A Few Conversations About Color, DM Contemporary, New York City, 2015; and versions of A Legacy of Making: at The Calandra Institute, New York City (co-curator: Joseph Sciorra); Connecticut College, New London; and Regis College, Weston, Massachusetts, all between 2024-2025, with others in formation.
AAA:
Member Since: 2014
Committees: Publications (Chair, 2024); Events
Special Projects: Past/ Present: American Abstract Artist Members Honor Their Predecessors, co-editor
