Matthu's Blog

My People

Sat, 18 May 2013 22:40:08 -0400

This is Mark Carson. His family lives in upper Manhattan. His brother’s name is Michael. Mark worked at a Yogurt shop and lived in Brooklyn. One of his closest friends is Kennisha Allen. Mark was 32 years old. 1 year younger than me. Mark was openly gay and shot point blank in the face last night in an anti-gay hate crime on 6th Avenue and 8th Street….6 avenues from my home and mere feet from the Stonewall Inn. This will be the 5th hate crime in less than 3 weeks in NYC.

Our struggle is NOT over yet…even in New York City.

There will be a candlelight vigil for Mark tonight at midnight.

111005 Balloons, Umbrellas and Snow: Rosa de la Cruz...

Tue, 14 May 2013 18:44:42 -0400

111005 Balloons, Umbrellas and Snow: Rosa de la Cruz photographed by Matthu Placek at the De la Cruz Collection in Miami. FL on December 5th 2011 holding Félix González-Torres “Nowhere better than this place”

TRUST ME The eternally thoughtful and touching… Amanda...

Mon, 13 May 2013 20:32:00 -0400

TRUST ME

The eternally thoughtful and touching… Amanda Palmer on The Art of Asking.

Desi Monster

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:00:00 -0400

One of the many perks of my “job” is the privilege to collaborate with a great many respected peers. Earlier last month performance artist Desi Santiago asked me to make some pictures with him for a commission by the Chinese version of The New York TImes: T supplement, Modern Weekly. Together with hair guru Guido we made some seriously off portraits. Take a peek.

Desi Santiago photographed by Matthu Placek on March 17th 2013 in Brooklyn, NY

Behind the scenes of my shoot with Yoko Ono photographed by...

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:31:52 -0400

Behind the scenes of my shoot with Yoko Ono photographed by James Kaliardos on August 21st 2012 in Central Park

Sabisha Friedberg: "Hinterkante, Resonanz (Hoffe Axiom)"

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 13:33:00 -0400

Trust Me.

Don’t miss the latest piece from artist Sabisha Friedberg performed tonight at ISSUE Project Room at 8:00PM 22 Boerum Place, Brooklyn.

For the first performance of her 2013 residency, Sabisha Friedberg presents Hinterkante, Resonanz (Hoffe Axiom), or Trailing Edge, Resonance (Hope Axiom), a new chamber piece for acoustic instruments, modified subwoofers, and voice, featuring internationally renowned basso profondo Kevin Maynor. Friedberg focuses on the concept of an experiential threshold, with notations and an arrangement of frequencies that engage the most physical states of hearing. This new work draws on the extremes of perception in the lower end of the sonic spectrum: the opening of a psychoacoustic territory which deals exclusively with bass tones and their resonance.

Sabisha Friedberg photographed by Matthu Placek in her MoMA/PS1 studio on March 14th 2012

Paul Zivkovich & Austin Goodwin photographed by Matthu...

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 12:36:33 -0400

Paul Zivkovich & Austin Goodwin photographed by Matthu Placek in Brooklyn NY on January 31st 2013

Dorian Grinspan photographed by Matthu Placek for W Magazine on...

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 17:13:21 -0400

Dorian Grinspan photographed by Matthu Placek for W Magazine on January 31st 2013

Forsythe on the Brain today. Go see the Julliard Dances...

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 12:51:31 -0400

Forsythe on the Brain today.

Go see the Julliard Dances Repertory present this work as staged by Christopher Roman this weekend! The students, especially my pal Austin Goodwin, are forces of nature in this industrial masterpiece.

William Forsythe “One Flat Thing” reproduced.

I wish I was the 🌚 tonight. #supermoon

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 05:11:18 -0400

I wish I was the 🌚 tonight. #supermoon

TODAY: STEPHEN SONDHEIM

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 05:40:00 -0400

Today I’m shooting Stephen Sondeim for HBO! Bright and early here we go.

Stephen Sondheim photographed by Richard Avedon in New York on April 4th 2004

NEW: Being Nick Cave

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 14:46:00 -0400

Visit The Aesthete for my latest series of images featuring artist Nick Cave with an interview written by Adam Whitney Nichols covering Cave’s upcoming project produced by Creative Time which will take place in Grand Central Terminal.

Nick Cave photographed by Matthu Placek in Chicago on January 24th 2013

Cool Hunting's Approval: Hannah Cohen's Sunrise

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:22:54 -0400

In a simple play on “Sunrise,” the title of Hannah Cohen’s final song off her album Child Bride, fast-rising photographer and director Matthu Placek allows the young singer’s limpid voice to really shine by doing nothing more than capturing her in black-and-white while a light slowly begins to expose her face. The ultimate in effortless beauty, Placek not only highlights Cohen’s gorgeous features but really expresses the quiet emotion behind basking in morning light. Go to Cool Hunting

The Wallstreet Journal Magazine: Sam Gilliam and Rashid Johnson

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 16:50:12 -0400

The WSJ Magazine commissioned a portrait of iconic painter Sam Gilliam and protégé Rashid Johnson to be produced in Gilliam’s Washinton DC studio. It was my honor to do so as it gave me the opportunity to see 5 decades of work brought out of storage in consideration of a show Johnson is curating. What’s more, Gilliam may have been the most charming man I have met to date. A true lady’s man.

Sam Gilliam and Rashid Johnson photographed by Matthu Placek in Washington DC on January 6th 2013

A Poem for Wednesday (On Saturday) by e.e. cummings

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 18:20:45 -0400

A Poem for Wednesday (On Saturday) by e.e. cummings

It’s that time again…my latest video with Hannah...

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 14:06:32 -0400

It’s that time again…my latest video with Hannah Cohen is LIVE TODAY! Sunrise was produced by none other than Thomas Bartlett. Follow Hannah as a full day’s light defines the intricacies of her vulnerability.

J’adore.

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 18:53:52 -0500

J’adore.

David Terzian photographed by Matthu Placek on January 31st 2013

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 20:35:56 -0500

David Terzian photographed by Matthu Placek on January 31st 2013

Trust Me: Tilda Swinton stars in David Bowie’s new video...

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 15:14:17 -0500

Trust Me: Tilda Swinton stars in David Bowie’s new video for “The Stars (are out tonight) Even with the excessive us of fashion models and raw poultry…I’m into it.

Carnival. Now.

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 02:15:01 -0500

Carnival. Now.