Matt Furie
Matt Furie
Matt Furie Matt Furie’s drawings come from a mix of child-like enchantment and momentary adult situations. His self proclaimed “children’s book illustrations for adults” combines traditional and modern markmaking for his ripe, cartoon-inspired characters. Last year he was awarded best Visual Artist by the San Francisco Bay Guardian in the 20th annual Goldie awards. He has exhibited extensively in the USA and Europe, his comic book series “Boy’s Club” is published by Buenaventura press. He also is the creator of Pepe the frog.
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The Importance of Graphic Wit
The Importance of Graphic Wit
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Matt Furie
Matt Furie
Your work can sometimes be very rude, at what point does it become too much? I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings.
How do clients engage with your proposed ideas? I do work for hire, usually the client wants the work to be done in my ‘style’ so that’s nice. There’s a process of preliminary sketches until the final concept is locked in and completed.
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The Importance of Graphic Wit
The Importance of Graphic Wit
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Matt Furie
Matt Furie
Is humour in art essentially a process of getting away with something? There are no rules in art. Humour is something I’m drawn to but not necessarily for everyone. For me, having a feeling of ‘getting away with something’ is an indication that I’m on the right path.
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The Importance of Graphic Wit
The Importance of Graphic Wit
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Matt Furie
Matt Furie
The Importance of Graphic Wit
The Importance of Graphic Wit
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Matt Furie
Matt Furie
What makes you pick up your pencil and draw? My brain. Drawing is a great escape from the jail of life. For me a drawing is like writing a poem. The aim is to try to comment on the unexplainable or make a character that represents an abstract idea I’ve been thinking about. For example, I draw a figure made up of rainbows- he represents the energy of love or the spirit or something. I have another creature that is like a werewolf: he represents the calm violence I see in nature.
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The Importance of Graphic Wit
The Importance of Graphic Wit
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Matt Furie
Matt Furie
Boy’s club is related to my own life of hanging out with friends- just exaggerated versions of my own reality as a post-college 20-something living with roommates. Drinking, farting, catch phrases, popping zits, snacks, video games, etc.
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The Importance of Graphic Wit
The Importance of Graphic Wit
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Matt Furie
Matt Furie
Is there such thing as pure art humour? I really like the Nirvana logo: the squiggle-smile x’ed eyed smiley face. It’s pretty close.
Do your ideas ever become too provocative? I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings.
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The Importance of Graphic Wit
The Importance of Graphic Wit
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Matt Furie
Matt Furie
Why does humour enter your work?
It’s nice to
laugh and smile. I enjoy drawing goofy stuff
like bulging
eyeballs and animal sex. 16
The Importance of Graphic Wit
The Importance of Graphic Wit
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