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Exhibition 2004

First solo exhibition in New York City

★ First solo exhibition in New York City — Big Cat Gallery, 28 East 2nd Street, East Village (January 22–26; opening reception Thursday January 22, 6–9 PM). Hundreds of paintings from the preceding six months, curated by David Hurd, staged four blocks from the Outsider Art Fair and open throughout its run. Press release, hand-distributed East Village flier and promotional postcard archived

Poster/flyer · 2004-01-22 to 2004-01-26

DAVID HURD and BIG CAT GALLERY present: MATT SESOW (hundreds of recent paintings)

Big Cat Gallery

DAVID HURD and BIG CAT GALLERY present: MATT SESOW (hundreds of recent paintings), page 1
DAVID HURD and BIG CAT GALLERY present: MATT SESOW (hundreds of recent paintings
DAVID HURD and BIG CAT GALLERY present: MATT SESOW (hundreds of recent paintings), page 2
DAVID HURD and BIG CAT GALLERY present: MATT SESOW (hundreds of recent paintings

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Full text

Photographed by Matt Sesow from his press packets, October 18, 2026; text transcribed from the photos by Claude.

DAVID HURD and BIG CAT GALLERY present: MATT SESOW (hundreds of recent paintings)

Matt's paintings release the tragedy and trauma of a life threatening accident he suffered as a child and transform them in a vibrant and prolific outpouring of raw emotional force. When Matt was eight years old, his predominant arm was severed by the propellor of a landing aircraft while he played on an air strip outside his home in Nebraska.

Self-taught and one-armed, Matt is a full-time artist and paints daily in a testament to the frailty of everyday living and a celebration of his existence. Described in the media under the various guises of "outsider" or "brut art," Matt describes himself as a "self-teaching" artist. The almost 4,000 paintings he has produced since he began painting eleven years ago, he views as studies and training for what lies ahead.

This is Matt's first solo exhibition in New York City, and it brings together hundreds of new works from over the past six months. Matt has shown extensively throughout the United States including, the Contemporary Art Center of Virginia, Hearst Gallery (CA), Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art (MT), Loveland Museum and Gallery (CO), Museum of the Southwest (TX), and the San Jose Art League Gallery (CA). In 2001, Matt was honored with a solo exhibition at the Corcoran Museum in Washington, D.C.

This limited run exhibition, curated by David Hurd, is being held only four blocks from the Outsider Art Fair, and will be open throughout the Fair.

OPENING RECEPTION: THURSDAY JANUARY 22, 6-9PM

hours: THURSDAY 2-9PM, FRIDAY thru MONDAY 12-7PM
SHOW RUNS JANUARY 22 - JANUARY 26, 2004

BIG CAT GALLERY
28 east 2nd street
new york, ny 10003
ph: 212.982.6210

[Map: MapQuest map showing Puck Bldg. and Big Cat Gallery]

Poster/flyer · inferred: January 2004 (Big Cat Gallery show January 22–26, 2004)

MATT SESOW hundreds of recent paintings — BIG CAT GALLERY (28 E. 2ND ST.)

MATT SESOW hundreds of recent paintings — BIG CAT GALLERY (28 E. 2ND ST.), page 1
MATT SESOW hundreds of recent paintings — BIG CAT GALLERY (28 E. 2ND ST.)
MATT SESOW hundreds of recent paintings — BIG CAT GALLERY (28 E. 2ND ST.), page 2
DAVID HURD and BIG CAT GALLERY present: MATT SESOW (hundreds of recent paintings
MATT SESOW hundreds of recent paintings — BIG CAT GALLERY (28 E. 2ND ST.), page 3
DAVID HURD and BIG CAT GALLERY present: MATT SESOW (hundreds of recent paintings

Click a page to open it — scroll or pinch to zoom, drag to move.

Full text

Photographed by Matt Sesow from his press packets, October 18, 2026; text transcribed from the photos by Claude.

MATT SESOW
hundreds of recent paintings

[image of painting: standing figure in open jacket holding a toy rabbit, small doll figure upper left]

BIG CAT GALLERY (28 E. 2ND ST.)

DAVID HURD and BIG CAT GALLERY present: MATT SESOW (hundreds of recent paintings)

Matt's paintings release the tragedy and trauma of a life threatening accident he suffered as a child and transform them in a vibrant and prolific outpouring of raw emotional force. When Matt was eight years old, his predominant arm was severed by the propellor of a landing aircraft while he played on an air strip outside his home in Nebraska.

Selected BIOGRAPHY: (numerous shows and accomplishments not listed)
* 1966: Born in Omaha, Nebraska September 10, of American parents.
* 1974: Struck by a landing airplane near rural Nebraska home. Arm severed by propeller, re-attached at hospital, dominant hand amputated by doctors.
* 1985/88: Left home to attend college in Oklahoma, received scholarship from Mensa society. Attained a BS degree in computer/software engineering. Began to make drawings and created/designed advertising for university; did not attend art school. Worked as radio DJ.
* 1989/92: Moved to Washington, DC; worked in an office at IBM as software engineer.
* 1993: Began painting in oils; painting on weekends and evenings; works inspired by childhood trauma. First short film, 'Seize the Day', completed.
* 1994: Short films by Sesow shown at Washington Project for the Arts group exhibition and selected for DC Psychtronic Film Society exhibition.
* 1995: Sold 14 paintings in one afternoon on streets of Georgetown; first time paintings by Sesow seen in public;

* SOLO SHOW: Corcoran Museum "White Walls" Gallery, Washington, DC (2001), over 45 works
* SOLO SHOW, windows at 14th and G downtown, 30+ works, Feb - April 2002 (Washington, DC)
* SOLO SHOW: HOLLYWOOD: "the Theater of Note", sesow painted the backdrop for the production of 'f**king wasps' (5 very large canvas)
* SOLO SHOW: 'CDW', 30th and M Street in Georgetown: Jan6 2002 thru March3 (Washington, DC)
* Group Show: "OUTSIDE/IN: Visionary Artists and Virginia Collectors", Contemporary Art Center of Virginia (Virginia Beach), 2002
* SOLO SHOW: 'the ottobar', March 2003, over 20 works (Baltimore, MD)
* SOLO SHOW: at Aroma in Washington, DC. 30+ works, March14 thru May 14 2003
* "Hell Bound" and "Bunny Collector" selected for "Revelations and Reflections of American Self-Taught Artists"
* Sept 01, 2002 - Oct 20, 2002: The Arkansas Arts Center (Little Rock, AK)
* Nov 10, 2002 - Jan7, 2003: Stedman Art Gallery (Camden, New Jersey)
* Jan 28, 2003 - Mar 16, 2003: Southern Ohio Museum (Porstmouth, Ohio)
* June 16, 2003 - Aug 11, 2003: Union College (Schnectady, NY)
* Sept 1, 2003 - Oct 20, 2003: UNLV Barrick Museum (Las Vegas, NV)
* Feb 1, 2004 - Mar 20, 2004: Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art (Great Falls, Montana)
* Apr 6, 2004 - Aug 11, 2004: The Middlebury College Museum of Art (Middlebury, Vermont)
* Sept 01, 2004 - Oct 20, 2004: Hearst Art Gallery (Moraga, CA)
* Nov 10, 2004 - Jan 07, 2005: Loveland Museum and Gallery (Loveland, Colorado)
* Apr 06, 2005 - May 25, 2005: Museum of the Southwest (Midland, TX)
* Jun 16, 2005 - Aug 14, 2005: Art Museum of Southwest Texas (Beaumont, TX)
* FIRST PLACE (best artist): 25th annual Adams Morgan Festival 2003. September 6-7 2003, Washington, DC
* BEST IN SHOW: Awarded 'Best in Show', national juried exhibition at Viewpoint Gallery showing in Schenectady, NY (May-July 2002)
* Group Show: "9/11 - Memorial Exhibition", 291 Broadway at Reade, NYC, (Sept11-Sept30 2002), New York City
* Group Show: guest artist, ATLANTA: "10th annual FOLK FEST 2003" August 15, 16, 17: North Atlanta Trade Center.
* Group Show: guest artist, ALABAMA "Kentuck Festival of the Arts" October 2003.

OPENING RECEPTION: THURSDAY JANUARY 22, 6-9PM

hours: THURSDAY 2-9PM, FRIDAY thru MONDAY 12-7PM
SHOW RUNS JANUARY 22 - JANUARY 26, 2004

BIG CAT GALLERY
28 east 2nd street
new york, ny 10003
ph: 212.982.6210

[MapQuest map of the East Village showing PUCK BLDG. and BIG CAT GALLERY near 2nd Ave and E 2nd St]

Pictures · click to enlarge

Off The Beaten Path (2005), from Matt Sesow's press archive
From the press page “Off The Beaten Path” (2005)
Off The Beaten Path (2005), from Matt Sesow's press archive
From the press page “Off The Beaten Path” (2005)
Off The Beaten Path (2005), from Matt Sesow's press archive
From the press page “Off The Beaten Path” (2005)
Off The Beaten Path (2005), from Matt Sesow's press archive
From the press page “Off The Beaten Path” (2005)
Off The Beaten Path (2005), from Matt Sesow's press archive
From the press page “Off The Beaten Path” (2005)
Off The Beaten Path (2005), from Matt Sesow's press archive
From the press page “Off The Beaten Path” (2005)
Solo Show, New York City (2004), from Matt Sesow's press archive
From the press page “Solo Show, New York City” (2004)
Solo Show, New York City (2004), from Matt Sesow's press archive
From the press page “Solo Show, New York City” (2004)
Solo Show, New York City (2004), from Matt Sesow's press archive
From the press page “Solo Show, New York City” (2004)
Solo Show, New York City (2004), from Matt Sesow's press archive
From the press page “Solo Show, New York City” (2004)
Solo Show, New York City (2004), from Matt Sesow's press archive
From the press page “Solo Show, New York City” (2004)
Solo Show, New York City (2004), from Matt Sesow's press archive
From the press page “Solo Show, New York City” (2004)

In their words

I am not just an outsider, but I’ve lived in places you’ll never go. I am not just visionary, but I’ll paint one thousand Buddha if I feel like it. Call me whatever you want. I am Matt Sesow.

Matt Sesow, in David Hurd’s press release for the Big Cat Gallery show, January 2004

From the press archive

Off The Beaten Path2005 · New York City · Group ShowSolo Show, New York City2004 · Big Cat Gallery · New York City, NYBig News Magazine2004 · cover and inside · Cover and inside

Saved web pages and links

Research notes

Where this record comes from

Cite as: Sesow, Matt. “First solo exhibition in New York City.” Matt Sesow Career Chronicle, 2004. history.sesow.com/e/2004-first-new-york-city-big.html. Accessed [date].

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Also in 2004

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