It was last Friday, I planned to meet friends for…whatever, maybe it was the movie, “Land Ho.” (I think it was). As is the case with most Facebookers, I had a minute. I opened my laptop and saw an invitation from the artist Matt Sesow at Access Gallery. I thought why not? It’s less than five minutes from my house. It was 5 ish, and before 6:00 p.m. it’s possible to find a parking spot on, or close to Santa Fe Drive. I jumped in the car, found a parking spot, walked a couple of blocks in the rain and, was happy to meet Matt Sesow and his delightfully, colorful, profound, politically correct/incorrect art.  The politics are irrelevant. His art is refreshing, exciting, hip, well executed and, this guy is making a name for himself in the bizarre, continually growing street art genre.

In the footsteps of Banksy, Haring, Fairey, Basquiat and Scharf, Sesow creates a style that comes closest to fine art graffiti.  He doesn’t tag buildings, trash dumpsters or, fences. He tacks a canvas to his studio wall, many as large as  6 ft. x 6 ft., and paints. When he is done he rolls up the painting, treks to his openings in Washington, D.C., London, New York. It’s kind of nice, galleries do not have to ‘hang’ his shows. The acrylic paintings, when he arrives,  are simply unrolled then tacked to the gallery walls and viola, he’s in business.

Matt paints in his studio in D.C. where his art career has gained momentum by utilizing a wacky take on social issues. With great joy he doesn’t avoid politics nor issues which keep the rest of us irritated and awake at night. Instead of spewing hatred and making a stand on Facebook he draws on his creativity and humor to express a political view on news worthy absurdities.  With tons of B.S. at his fingertips he delights in poking fun at politics through his art. He was recently commissioned to create a stamp for the United Nations and travels frequently to Europe where his art has created an international following.

“Access Denied,” show runs through September 13th at the Access Gallery.

“Border Crossing,” by Matt Sesow.  Painted during his stay in Denver.

Access Gallery + Studio is located at 909 Santa Fe Drive. www.accessgallery.org