Matthew Littekin’s work investigates the notion of value through the exploitation of money and value in multifaceted projects that incorporate the iconography and motifs from U.S. currency, generating a dialogue about the interplay of both spending practices and value assignments that penetrate our daily experiences. He examines the role of these assessments through both subject matter and color theory, challenging viewers to reconsider the value systems so deeply embedded in the American psyche in the consumption of goods and services that is directly tied to the human desires, fancies, and whims in our post-industrial consumer society. The images, found objects, and decorative elements speak to a number of issues surrounding societal assessments, particularly in relation to home improvement, commodities, and consumer habits.
Matthew Litteken is a full-time artist living and working in the greater Cincinnati area. He predominately works in the medium of painting and drawing, but maintains an increasingly diverse practice that includes mixed-media printmaking, collage, and wall/floor installations. Matthew earned his BFA from Miami University (of Ohio) in 1995 with concentrations in both painting and ceramics. He went on to complete his MFA with distinctions from the University of Cincinnati at the School of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning in 2004, with an emphasis in two-dimensional studies. Matthew’s artwork has been exhibited in over 20 solo and 80 group shows and his paintings, prints, and drawings are in private collections across the United States.
