Matthew Monahan creates striking sculptures that are built from drawings, as well as fragments of smaller artworks made with disparate materials, including floral foam, beeswax, glitter, pins, Styrofoam, glass, and drywall. From these unlikely media, he builds freestanding, assemblaged sculptures within which hand-crafted characters—warriors, saints, slain heroes, and demons—seem to express heroic emotions ranging from jubilation to anguish.
Begun in 1992, the original Focus Series (1992–1998) was dedicated to presentations of distinct bodies of work by artists working in all media and featured a roster of distinguished local and international artists.
The Focus Series quickly became core to the museum's mission and identity as the artist's museum. Over a subsequent three-year period in the mid-2000s, the series was revived briefly but powerfully, featuring primarily LA-based artists and representing the first LA museum exhibition for artists including Eric Wesley (2006), Lecia Dole-Recio (2006), Alexandra Grant (2007), and Sterling Ruby (2008).
Begun in 1992, the original Focus Series (1992–1998) was dedicated to presentations of distinct bodies of work by artists working in all media and featured a roster of distinguished local and international artists.
The Focus Series quickly became core to the museum's mission and identity as the artist's museum. Over a subsequent three-year period in the mid-2000s, the series was revived briefly but powerfully, featuring primarily Los Angeles-based artists and representing the first Los Angeles museum exhibition for artists including Eric Wesley (2006), Lecia Dole-Recio (2006), Alexandra Grant (2007), and Sterling Ruby (2008).