Matt Roussel’s Textured Woodcuts Metamorphose into Paintings
All images courtesy of Matt Roussel, shared with permission
Matt Roussel’s Textured Woodcuts Metamorphose into Paintings
February 18, 2025
Art
Kate Mothes
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From elaborate portraits to overflowing florals to playful animals, the woodcuts of Matt Roussel (previously) tell a wide range of enigmatic stories. For his large-scale works, Roussel begins by carving wooden panels, but rather than using the blocks to make prints, he applies acrylic paint to the surfaces to create bold, textured paintings. Portraits of women wearing unique garments are complemented by goldfish that metamorphose into birds and giant scarab beetles cloaked in giant flowers.
Roussel’s work will be on view in several forthcoming art3f fairs throughout Europe, with Strasbourg, Nantes, and Lyon coming up in late February and March. Find more on the artist’s website and Instagram.
“Three Flowers Scarab,” acrylic on carved wood
Detail of “Three Flowers Scarab”
“Métamorphose,” acrylic on carved wood, 60 x 60 centimeters
“Fleur de Zhou,” acrylic on carved wood
“Poisson pipe,” acrylic on carved wood, 60 x 80 centimeters
“La grande fleur,” acrylic on carved wood, 120 x 80 centimeters
“Golden dance,” acrylic on carved wood, 60 x 80 centimeters
“3 cimes,” acrylic on carved wood, 120 x 80 centimeters
Detail of “3 cimes”
“La falaise,” acrylic on carved wood, 60 x 80 centimeters
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