April 7 – 13
Location: Gallery 7, Humanities Building 7th Fl, 455 N Park St, Madison, WI
Reception: Friday, April 10, 5-8pm
What does it mean to work functionally in a postmodern age? Featuring thirteen pieces made in response to this central question, the work investigates the why behind the what, tracing connections between object quality, labor, and everyday life through the making of functional forms.
Matthew Bruhn is an artist and furniture maker from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Working primarily in wood, he engaging himself mentally, physically, and creatively to create elegant domestic objects, ranging from small bowls to larger human size pieces of furniture. Drawing from his background in design and fine woodworking he explores intersections of design, fine art, and craft by means of form, technique, and methods of production.
In 2023, Bruhn was awarded an endowed fellowship at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Rockport, Maine. Formerly the Site Manager at Franconia Sculpture Park in Shaffer, Minnesota, he holds a BFA in Industrial Design from the University of Wisconsin-Stout and a certificate of achievement from the Krenov School of Fine Furniture. Currently he is an MFA Candidate in the Wood program at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
The Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibitions season continues with Matt Bruhn’s exhibit 13 Pretty Things! The MFA Thesis Exhibitions mark the culmination of a three-year degree program that emphasizes development of a rigorous studio art practice under the supervision of a faculty guidance committee. Exploring an interdisciplinary approach to art making, as well as coursework in art history and related fields, artists cultivate professional practices that facilitate a sustainable career in the arts. Join us in celebrating our Class of 2026 UW-Madison Graduate professionals!