Matt Phillips (1927-2017): A Revival of Monotype

Matt Phillips was born in New York City on March 13, 1928, to Sheryl Jean Jacks and Phillip LaDon “Donnie” Phillips Sr. He moved with his family to Leesburg, Georgia when he was 12, marking an early formative experience that would shape his artistic sensibilities. From a young age, Phillips demonstrated a passion for music, particularly guitar playing, nurtured by his friend Benjamin Neil who encouraged him to explore his musical potential. His academic pursuits led him to earn a Master’s degree in Literature from the University of Chicago in 1952 and subsequently studied at Stanford University, broadening his intellectual horizons. Phillips embarked on a distinguished artistic career, initially delving into poetry before gravitating towards painting and printmaking. Recognizing the importance of experimentation and innovation, he honed his skills at the Barnes Foundation in Merion, Pennsylvania, immersing himself in the rich traditions of modern art. He continued his artistic journey by relocating to Paris in 1964, where he pursued further training and deepened his understanding of European artistic movements. Returning to the United States in 1987, Phillips established a professorship at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY, dedicating himself to teaching and fostering creativity within the academic community. He retired from Bard in 1987, continuing to pursue exhibitions and travel—a lifelong passion that enriched his artistic perspective. Phillips’s artistic breakthrough came with his rediscovery of monotype printing, a technique largely abandoned by artists since the late nineteenth century. Influenced by pioneers like Degas, Gauguin, and Prendergast, Phillips championed this method as a vehicle for expressive exploration. He meticulously crafted monotypes—unique prints created by drawing or painting directly onto glass or metal plates and transferring them to paper using pressure—capturing fleeting moments of visual poetry. His work embodies a harmonious blend of figural and abstract elements, characterized by rhythmic shapes and vibrant colors that resonate with profound emotional depth.

• Notable Exhibitions: Phillips’s prolific career spanned numerous solo exhibitions showcasing his mastery of monotype printing and its transformative potential. Highlights included “Singular Impressions: The Monotype in America” at the National Museum of American Art, Washington D.C.; “The Painterly Print” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; and “The New American Monotypes” at Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C., cementing his legacy as a pivotal figure in reviving this forgotten art form.
• Recognition & Awards: Phillips received prestigious grants and awards from organizations such as Pollock-Krasner Foundation, Bard College, National Endowment for the Arts, and John Simon Guggenheim Foundation—affirming his artistic merit and furthering his creative endeavors.

Phillips’s artistic philosophy centered on embracing chance and spontaneity within the monotype process. He likened it to “colored poems,” emphasizing the beauty of unexpected visual outcomes achieved through careful consideration of paper texture and printing pressure. His unwavering commitment to exploring new artistic avenues—coupled with his profound appreciation for art history—established him as a visionary artist who reshaped perceptions of printmaking and inspired generations of creatives. Sources: Peter Hastings Falk, Editor, Who Was Who in American Art Date and place of birth courtesy of Robin Phillips