Matt Barnes: ‘PANTHERS’ Exhibition Jan 14th-Feb 19th 2010. Opening Reception Fri 15th 6pm-10pm

Matt Barns is nothing more than a voyeur. Sat in the corner, he surveys all before figuring out the best way to add his perverse twist to anything left open to lewd persuasion. Clad in chambray, he stands, taking one last drag of a cigarillo before its stomped to a smolder by his gator boot. As his subject is approached, you relize; when Matt looks at you, he only sees a skewed part of himself.

A melange of influences have helped Matt shape his style. Inspiration comes fro the time spent diggin' through crates of records, downing Mai-Tai's at a considerable pace or walling in the seediness only a roadside motel room can provide. A chameleon, as equally at home in the company of diesel drivers, with forearms big as beef, as he is philandering amongst the tuxedoed in a crowd, he has the unique ability to flow from commercial ad to rock and roll album cover. without missing a beat. Matt's life is about a bona-fide photoshoot and he is going at it lock, stock and barrel.

lately, when not knee-deep in sleeze, Matt has been quietly preparing to make moving pictures, assembling a film side of "The Spot" Productions. A recent recipients of the Bravo Fact grant, he hopes to turn success as a commercial photographer into that of a successful director. With his work on his debut film commencing, it looks like there'll be no time for this soon-to-be auteur to back off the hammer!