Olaf Breuning, Tony Matelli, John Miller: Group Exhibition

Influenced by a number of diverse and eclectic sources, Breuning’s work humorously reflects his observation of human behavior and concerns:

“Well, I would like to be perfect, but I think art shows me that whatever technology I use, my personality pushes through and there we are… something is not perfect. I like that. We are finally human.”

Besides the numerous exhibitions around the world, artist has participated in various prestigious public projects, including City Hall Park exhibition “Lightness of Being” (2013) and “Happening of Station to Station” at Miami Art Basel (2013). His “Clouds” (2014) installation in Central Park in New York embellished the landscape of the park with 35-feet blue aluminum clouds.

In 2008, he began gilding junk using imitation gold leaf in his wall reliefs and sculptures. The metallic shimmer of gold-plated objects evokes an unconscious attraction, drawing viewer’s eyes to the shiny surfaces. Only on a closer look, these gold-painted details turn out to be the low-cost household items. Taken together, these objects are devoid of practical application and portray a mock reflection of average life. ‘All that glitters is not gold’ – the contrast between the illusion of luxury and the disappointment of the sudden loss of value of the object reflects Miller’s position on the validity of art in consumer culture.

In 2011, Miller received the Wolfgang Hahn Prize from the Society for Contemporary Art at the Museum Ludwig in Cologne. In 1991, he received a Fellowship from the Berliner Kunstlerprogramm, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

His work was included in the Gwangju Biennale (2010), Biennale d’Art Contemporain de Lyon (2005) and the Whitney Biennial (1985, 1991).