Joshua Trees

September - October 2023

M+B Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

M+B is pleased to present Joshua Trees, an exhibition of new works by Matthew Brandt. This is the artist’s sixth solo show with the gallery. The exhibition opens on September 9 and will run through October 7, 2023 at M+B, with an opening reception on Saturday, September 9.

In his latest exhibition, Joshua Trees, Brandt explores the screen printing process by employing a blend of digital and analog techniques to evoke the nuanced textures and colors of the iconic desert flora. The resulting works are complex tapestries of sand, evoking the ephemeral. Each piece emerges as a textured manifestation that challenges the fleeting nature of its own medium. The works serve as tactile and vivid continuations of the Joshua trees' natural essence while transmuting the ephemerality of scattered sand grains into the durable—a technique evocative of the transient sand mandalas of Tibetan monks.

Brandt imbues these works with an elemental connection by using sand gathered from the locales where he photographed the trees. His palette offers a rich spectrum from the subtle, nostalgic tones reminiscent of vintage 35mm film, to electrifying bursts of color that echo the psychedelic aesthetics integral to 1960s rock culture to monochromatic works that are evocative of 19th and early 20th century photography. These monochromatic pieces, encased in frames crafted from sand and jesmonite, subtly mirror the desert landscapes that cradle their subjects. Such stylistic choices contribute to the intersection of technology and the tangible, a theme further deepened by the nuanced spiritual and physical interplay embedded in the works.

The Joshua tree, central to this exhibition, emerges as a symbol of nature's enduring resilience in a challenging desert ecosystem. While the tree's delicate germination process and storied cultural significance form a rich backdrop, Brandt's focus veers towards a more intimate, almost mystical relationship between the subject and its native environment. Such an engagement presents the Joshua tree not just as a survivalist but also as a spiritual muse—a conduit linking divine myths to earthly realities.

Stripping away the multitude of meanings—whether cultural, musical, or spiritual—that have accumulated around the Joshua tree, Brandt's exhibition uniquely situates it within the larger conversation about the quest for spiritual and artistic expression. Brandt's work captures the elusive essence of the Joshua tree through various material applications. In doing so, he orchestrates a meditative space where the shifting sands of mysticism, resilience, and creativity coalesce into a resonant tapestry of human and natural history.