Undercurrent | Courtney Mattison

Courtney Mattison creates intricate and large-scale ceramic sculptural works that visualize climate change through the fragile beauty of marine life. Her sculptures inspired by coral reefs depict the delicate beauty found beneath the sea and highlight biodiversity impacted by human activity. After studying marine biology and ceramic sculpture in college and graduate school, Mattison dedicated her career to creating art that calls attention to threats facing the ocean. Her background in marine conservation informs her work, and her advocacy seeks to inspire us to preserve our changing seas. The works in this two-gallery exhibition will confront viewers by bringing them up close and personal to coral reefs and promoting meaningful change needed to protect our underwater ecosystems. 

Her work has been commissioned internationally for permanent collections, including those of the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta and Lindblad Expeditions’ National Geographic Endurance ship. Exhibitions include solo shows at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, the U.S. Department of Commerce headquarters, the New Bedford Whaling Museum, and the Institute of Contemporary Art San Diego/North. Curated group exhibitions include “Fragile Earth” at the Brandywine River Museum of Art and “We the People” at the American Museum of Ceramic Art. In 2020, the United Nations Postal Administration published Mattison’s work on a stamp to commemorate Earth Day. Her work has been featured on the covers of American Craft, Nature, Beaux Arts and Brown Alumni magazines, and has been featured by Smithsonian Magazine, Good Morning America, Oprah Magazine and BBC World Service. She lives and works in San Francisco.

Artist Talk- Courtney Mattison: Visualizing Climate Change Through the Fragile Beauty of Marine Life

Thursday, August 10 | 6:30 - 7:30pm

Hybrid Virtual + In-Person Event

$12: Non-Members | $8: Members

Free for MMAM Volunteers

Join Courtney Mattison for a virtual presentation about her intricate and large-scale ceramic sculptural work inspired by the plight of coral reefs. Her work visualizes the effects of carbon dioxide emissions, such as coral bleaching caused by warming waters, and ocean acidification.This is a hybrid of an in-person and virtual event. The artist, Courtney Mattison, will be streaming live virtually. You are welcome to watch the event from the comfort of your own home, or come to MMAM and watch the talk in Courtney Mattison’s gallery, and be immersed in her art while you listen to the artist speak about her work.

Register Here 

Artist Dinner with Courtney Mattison

Saturday, September 2 | 6:30 - 8:30pm

With Chef's Table by Doug Dahlgren

$95: Non-Members | $85: Members

Join us for a very special late summer evening at MMAM with exhibiting artist Courtney Mattison, and the curators for Mattison’s solo exhibition. This dinner event celebrates the conclusion of Courtney Mattison: Undercurrent, and gives you a chance to meet the artist, dine on a 3-course sustainably harvested meal inspired by the exhibition from chef Doug Dahlgren from Chef's Table, and take a private tour with the curators. 

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Artist Inclusive Tour with Courtney Mattison

Sunday, September 3 | 11am - 12pm

$12: Non-Members | Free: Members + Volunteers

Artist Inclusive Gallery Tours are a ticketed opportunity to meet the artist in an intimate capacity and tour the installation. Don’t miss your chance to experience Courtney Mattison: Undercurrent with the artist herself, and learn about the exhibition, artwork, and Mattison's process. This event is part of the September 2-3 closing weekend for the two exhibitions under the suite of Fauna.

Register Here

Image: Courtney Mattison, Our Changing Seas III, 2014. Ceramic sculpture. Image courtesy of Arthur Evans, Tang Museum.