Mark Borghi Gallery in Sag Harbor will present “Mercedes Matter Paintings and Drawings 1966–1986,” an exhibition of Matter’s 15 canvases and 15 drawings of abstract animal-skull charcoal still lifes.
Matter was taught to paint landscapes as a young girl by her father and American modernist painter, Arthur B. Carles, in the French countryside. She came of age in New York City, where she studied at the Art Students League with Hans Hofmann until signing on with the Works Progress Administration’s Federal Art Project. Matter moved to East Hampton in the 1950s.
In the second half of her career, Matter became an opposer of rigid arts education and advocated for studio-led learning that imitated the lives of working artists. This led Matter to founding the New York Studio of Drawing, Painting, and Sculpture upon these principles.
Matter continued to be an active artist and educator until her death in 2001 at 87. The exhibition of her celebrated work will run from June 17 to June 30.