John ‚CRASH‘ Matos x KOLLY Gallery Zurich x Solo Exhibition & Mural Painting

Born John Matos in 1961, Crash was raised in the Bronx, New York. At the age of 13, he began to follow the older teens from his neighborhood to the train yards and began spraying. He got the alias “Crash” after he accidentally crashed a computer in his school. In 1975 he painted his first train. Since that his alias “Crash” began appearing on trains circulating all throughout New York City. In 1978 as one of the first graffiti writers he began painting on canvas. Soon his artworks were exhibited next to Keith Haring’s and Jean-Michel Basquiat’s pieces in galleries. At the age of 19 Crash curated his first and ground- breaking exhibition Graffiti Art Success for America at Fashion Moda (NY). In addition Crash has designed a mural for the Musee d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris. With over 300 worldwide exhibition Crash counts to the pioneers of Graffiti Art rooted in the 1980ies in New York City. 
Nowadays his works are represented in renowned art museums: Museum of Modern Art in New York, Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam and the Brooklyn Museum of Art.,

„I paint to communicate an experience.“ – John ‚Crash‘ Matos, 2017.
The Kolly Gallery proudly presents the new artworks of international renowned artist John ‚Crash‘ Matos at his solo exhibition entitled The Color Swatches from June 15 to July 15, 2017.

Color explosions as well as the omnipresent icon of the eye are predominant features in Crash’s canvases of the exhibition. As the title gives away the different colored swatches imitate amplified sprayed tags or throws ups on walls. The opaque yet transparent coloring and the layouts of the different patches should be a playful and light assimilation of tags and paint splats. Accompanied by the legacy of old school graffiti Crash developed his compositions, while traversing several abstraction processes. Lettering and tags became color swatches. Full feminine faces from his earlier paintings were shortened to one essential icon – the eye. John ‚Crash‘ Matos will surprise the public by showing drawings, canvases as well as installations!

Not only will Kolly Gallery present the exhibition of John ‚Crash‘ Matos, but also for the first time a Graffiti Mural will be realized in the heart of Zurich! Together with partners like X-TRA and MOLOTOW Crash will spray paint the first Graffiti Mural of 160m2 in the cultural vibrant district 5 at the Limmatplatz. Designing an exclusive and unique facade Crash will bring his own vibe to the city of Zurich, hoping to communicate his experience of Graffiti to the world. With over 300 worldwide exhibition Crash counts to the pioneers of Graffiti Art rooted in the 1980ies in New York City.
We cordially invite you to the opening on June 15 from 6pm at the Kolly Gallery and from 7.30pm at the X-TRA Zürch. The exhibition runs from June 15 to July 15, 2017 at the Kolly Gallery in Zurich.
John ‚CRASH‘ Matos
The Color Swatches (Solo Show)
June 15 – July 15, 2017
Exhibition Opening June 15, 6pm Graffiti Mural Opening June 15, 7.30pm
Kolly Gallery Seefeldstrasse 56 8008 Zurich
X-TRA Nord-Ost-Fassade Ausstellungsstrasse 103 8005 Zürich