Matt Lay
This series is, in part, a celebration of the architecture of the past that formed and shaped Denver as it is known today. As I produced more and more pieces and became intimately familiar with these places I was trying to capture, I kept returning to the question of, “How do people generally view these places?” For some, these places represent beauty and serve as reminders of their own spirituality and the temporal nature of life. For others, these structures truly are remnants. They may represent nothing more than baggage with the Church or the battle with one’s own beliefs at large.
Still, these spaces are often thriving and vibrant, providing hope within our neighborhoods and communities. Wherever people fall on this spectrum, it is important to at least recognize these structures for their role in shaping Denver’s identity. I’ve also included some pieces in this show that speak less about Denver's identity, and more about my own. This newer work is based less on architecture and more on figurative scenes that are intended to be reminiscent of the Old Masters. The scenes are often humorously juxtaposed with elements and situations found in everyday life.
Matthew Lay graduated from Fort Lewis College with a Bachelor's degree in Art. He was born and raised in the beautiful state of Colorado and grew up in the Denver Metro area. His curiosity and fascination in architecture originally stemmed from seeing some of the incredible Gothic cathedrals in Europe. This fascination has developed and transformed his work, bringing him to focus on architecture found in Colorado.
