The Virginian-Pilot — The Beacon

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Photographed by Matt Sesow from his press packets, October 18, 2026; text transcribed from the photos by Claude.

12 — THE BEACON — THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2005
[Handwritten: April 2005, solo in VA. Beach.]

Artist displays "future of art" at Hogan Gallery

BY PATRICK EVANS-HYLTON
THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

KEMPSVILLE — His work has been called brutal, aggressive, aberrant and intense.

But artist Matt Sesow simply describes it as "honest."

Sesow covers his canvas with vibrant colors and striking images. Now, a Virginia Beach gallery is filled with his work.

Dozens of drawings and paintings from the Washington, D.C., artist are on display through the end of April at The Hunter Hogan Gallery in The Barry Robinson Theater Fine Arts Center. The center is at the Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School in Kempsville.

"This is a very different venue for me," said Sesow, 39, of the gallery that is adjacent to the parochial school. "But I am sensitive to it, and am grateful to exhibit here."

Some of Sesow's more aggressive work, or art that contained nudity, was not exhibited because of the connection to the Catholic high school. Still, he said, a good representation of his work is on display.

Works in the exhibit are also for sale, with prices ranging from $80 to $800.

Sesow was 8 when he was struck by an airplane that landed near his rural Nebraska home. His left arm was severed by the propeller. His arm was reattached, but doctors later had to amputate his hand.

Sesow said the trauma of the accident and the loss of his hand defines him as an artist, and it is through painting that he can express the feelings of alienation that he developed after the incident.

He describes his work as "aggressive art," used to articulate his emotions about subjects ranging from religion to politics.

Sesow did not attend art school, but rather draws and paints in expressive form, much like the self-taught artwork created by folk, or outsider, artists.

"This is the future of art," he said. "That's what I hope people will see when they come here, whether it is the high school students next door or people from the community. Art will be honest, hard core, excessive and public."

Dennis Baldi, a Norfolk resident, attended the April 8 opening of the show.

"This guy has the most phenomenal art," Baldi said. "My wife and I go to all the local art shows – Stockley Gardens, Boardwalk Art Show – but this level of art is unbelievable."

The Robinson Center's administrative assistant Brendan Hoyle agreed.

"It's exciting to have an artist on this level exhibit here. His work makes you look and think," Hoyle said. "You may like it or you may not, but you will have to stop and think what it is about the work that either appeals to you or doesn't."

Hoyle said the center, which opened in late 2003, is fulfilling its mission of bringing art to the community with Sesow's exhibit.

"There aren't many places in Hampton Roads to go and view art. We hope people will come here and enjoy our exhibits and maybe discover a new favorite artist."

■ The Hunter Hogan Gallery is at 4552 Princess Anne Road, and is open from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Admission is free to the public. For more information, call 467-2881 or www.brtfac.org.

■ Reach correspondent Patrick Evans-Hylton at awriterforyou@hotmail.com.

[Photo caption:] The Barry Robinson Theater Fine Arts Center's Hunter Hogan Gallery is exhibiting the work of Washington, D.C., artist Matt Sesow. — PATRICK EVANS-HYLTON

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Artist displays "future of art" at Hogan Gallery

By PATRICK EVANS-HYLTON
The Virginian-Pilot

KEMPSVILLE — His work has been called brutal, aggressive, aberrant and intense.

But artist Matt Sesow simply describes it as "honest."

Sesow covers his canvas with vibrant colors and striking images. Now, a Virginia Beach gallery is filled with his work.

Dozens of drawings and paintings from the Washington, D.C., artist are on display through the end of April at The Hunter Hogan Gallery in The Barry Robinson Theater Fine Arts Center.

The center is at the Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School in Kempsville.

"This is a very different venue for me," said Sesow, 39, of the gallery that is adjacent to the parochial school. "But I am sensitive to it, and am grateful to exhibit here."

Some of Sesow's more aggressive work, or art that contained nudity, was not exhibited because of the connection to the Catholic high school.

Still, he said, a good representation of his work is on display.

Works in the exhibit are also for sale, with prices ranging from $80 to $800.

Sesow was 8 when he was struck by an airplane that landed near his rural Nebraska home. His left arm was severed by the propeller. His arm was reattached, but doctors later had to amputate his hand.

Sesow said the trauma of the accident and the loss of his hand defines him as an artist, and it is through painting that he can express the feelings of alienation that he developed after the incident.

He describes his work as "aggressive art," used to articulate his emotions about subjects ranging from religion to politics.

Sesow did not attend art school, but rather draws and paints in expressive form, much like the self-taught artwork created by folk, or outsider, artists.

"This is the future of art," he said. "That's what I hope people will see when they come here, whether it is the high school students next door or people from the community. Art will be honest, hard core, excessive and public."

Dennis Baldi, a Norfolk resident, attended the April 8 opening of the show.

"This guy has the most phenomenal art," Baldi said. "My wife and I go to all the local art shows – Stockley Gardens, Boardwalk Art Show – but this level of art is unbelievable."

The Robinson Center's administrative assistant Brendan Hoyle agreed.

"It's exciting to have an artist on this level exhibit here. His work makes you look and think," Hoyle said.

"You may like it or you may not, but you will have to stop and think what it is about the work that either appeals to you or doesn't."

Hoyle said the center, which opened in late 2003, is fulfilling its mission of bringing art to the community with Sesow's exhibit.

"There aren't many places in Hampton Roads to go and view art. We hope people will come here and enjoy our exhibits and maybe discover a new favorite artist."

■ The Hunter Hogan Gallery is at 4552 Princess Anne Road, and is open from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Admission is free to the public. For more information, call 467-2881 or www.brtfac.org.

■ Beach correspondent Patrick Evans-Hylton at awriterforyou@hotmail.com.

[Photo caption:] The Barry Robinson Theater Fine Arts Center's Hunter Hogan Gallery is exhibiting the work of Washington, D.C., artist Matt Sesow. (Patrick Evans-Hylton)

[Handwritten note:] Solo show. Hunter Hogan Gallery, Va Beach, VA, April 2005.