Biography Salvatore Matteo Leaving his native Queens, New York, in the 1980's for an LA dream of creative freedom and artistic communities, Salvatore Matteo became sidetracked with consulting for the Aerospace Industry. As an architectural/ mechanical- designer draftsman, he consulted for defense-industry Engineering Departments and worked on fighter jets and attack helicopters. His speedy "success" with such projects availed him increased security clearance and, in due course, he participated on "bigger & better" projects including such means of mass destruction as the MX Missile and the "Big Eye" chemical bomb.
His proximity and application of talent to such projects, however, compelled him to drop out of 9-to-5 existence in the 1990s to concentrate his life and art on resistance to the U.S.' alarmingly-unresisted reliance on a military-defense industrial complex. With a meticulous attention to detail and dedication to worksmanship, his professional leap was a success: soon he was laboring in the art world only.
Salvo has built a successful faux-finishing business and contributed valuable animation to various grass-root and industry campaigns for solar and renewable energy projects. A self-taught craftsman, he also pursued formal training at Otis/parsons School of Art & Design, but finds the most inspiration in working with such patrons over the years as Francis Ford Coppola, Larry David, Howie Mandel, Marlee Maitlin, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Robert Redford.
A geyser of artistic energy and abilities, Salvo's daily philosophies are transferred to all his canvases-whether they are stretched on frames, defined by electronic formats or manifest in metal, wood, paper or textile. He finds perfection and stability in chaotic circumstances and life's charming lack of predictability, a way of living that coincides with his Dutch-tilt view of the world.
Environmental and political issues become layered in each of his brush strokes. Confusion and ambivalence direct algorithmically-constructed electronic lines he designs in multi-media formats. He perceives a seductive darkness in his artwork and hopes it reflects some of the wisdom gained from resisting cultural, economic and political norms over nearly 20 years of living as an artist in Hollywood, California.
