Matt Swenson is an artist with a studio in Three Oaks, Michigan. He uses recycled vintage magazine and newspaper clippings, both photographs and text, along with inks and acrylic paints to create collage works of vibrant color that also function as a humorous stream of consciousness cultural commentary.

This work is also reminiscent of pop art and thematically returns to burlesque, pin-up girls, and sexual tension that might remind one of 1950s advertising with well-defined gender roles, underground magazines featuring Bettie Page, or maybe Russ Meyer’s cult classic film, “Faster Pussycat, Kill, Kill” One of Swenson’s clippings reads, “Undercover Girls: Here’s a chance to sneak a peek at what Broadway babes cover up!” But the text is never one-sided. Viewing his collage work is like watching a conversation unfold, as one text addition modifies or alters the meaning of the last, taking you in directions you might not expect.

Swenson also has a strong interest in creating celebrity portraits in the same bold colors as his collage works. Included in this series of works are portraits of Bob Marley, Stevie Wonder, Twiggy, Johnny Cash, and Elvis. A portrait of David Bowie was available, but it just sold.