We had the good fortune of connecting with Matt Haffner and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Matt, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Making art is all about risk for me. Every piece is an experiment. Some more successful than others. You must train yourself to be able to listen to and follow your intuition and not fear the inevitable failures that comes with these risks. Those “failures” are the only way to grow as an artist and learn about yourself and what drives the work you make.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am an artist who works in a variety of media; video projections over cut paper, drawings overlayed with photographs, street art, and more recently tattooing. For me this was a natural progression. All of these mediums and processes inform the next. While developing my tattoo style, I was drawing amulets, symbols of protection, talismen, and other occult related content. This greatly informed the studio work I’ve been doing for the last couple years. I am about to have a solo exhibition at my representing gallery, White Space, in Atlanta. (Half Light, March 2 – April 13)

Half Light is an exhibition of large-scale, site-specific installations, alongside mixed media artworks that address the artist’s personal narratives combined with mythology and historical folklore. These works use humble materials and simple processes elevated through innovation, attention to detail, and meticulous craft. This exhibition takes visitors on a visual journey of quiet landscapes at dusk that are interspersed with surreal and otherworldly experiences.

Being creative is not necessarily easy, because it is always problem solving. For me the challenges that come with problem solving are what fuels my interest to keep going. The other component that drives me is the sense of accomplishment that comes from seeing finished works that encapsulate the vision of my intuition and all the decisions that were encountered throughout the process.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Atlanta has really developed into a great city and keeps growing and improving. Besides this giving us a vibrant city where there is no end of great things to do, I like a hidden gem. The walkable pocket neighborhoods of Atlanta are the best and something that out of towners might not understand on a first visit. I live in Kirkwood, which has grown into my dream neighborhood with bakeries, coffee shops, restaurants, bars, parks, and amazing walkability. Inman Park, Grant Park, Cabbagetown, Candler Park are the places I’m in the most and love being a part of.

The hidden gems I love in Atlanta are places like Videodrome, the Plaza Theater, weekend farmer’s markets, Ticonderoga Room, Kimball House, Poor Hendrix, Criminal Records, the Buford Highway Farmers Market. This list could go on forever. But besides these great gems in all the little pocket neighborhoods, I think its important to get out and go for hikes. Georgia offers so much for camping and other outdoor activities and has great year round weather so your not limited to indoor things in the winter or summer.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My family is the most important to me. The time and flexibility that they have given me to make the work I make as pursue my creativity is worth more than anything to me. Beside that, Susan Bridges and White Space Gallery has been dedicated to me and the work I make since 2010. Having those who champion my work permits further creativity and exploration.

Website: www.matthaffner.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matt.haffner.studio/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100006089507901

Other: https://www.wildharettt.com/ https://whitespace814.com/

Image Credits
All images courtesy of the artist and White Space Gallery

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