North Central art exhibit explores consumerism

Naperville's North Central College will showcase a collection of artwork by Matthew Litteken in an exhibit titled "And, And & And" through Feb. 5.

The exhibit is free and open to the public in the college's Oesterle Library Gallery, 320 E. School St. An artist reception will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5.

"And, And & And" features Litteken's paintings and work as a whole and investigates the notion of consumerism through the exploitation of money and value. His artwork incorporates the iconography and motifs from U.S. currency, generating a dialogue between both spending practices and value assignments that make up our daily experiences.

"The thrust of my work," says Litteken, "is to provide viewers with the ironic sense of the sublime as related to the dry motif of money, while raising issues of artistry, value and pictorial worth. What do we value? For what reason, and to what end? I regard my work, not as the answers to these questions, but rather, as the inquisitors."

Litteken's work has been exhibited at the Philadelphia Art Alliance, Purdue University Galleries, Northern Kentucky University, The Artist's Museum in Washington, D.C., The Art Association of Harrisburg, Penna., and in private collections across the United States. He teaches drawing, painting and two-dimensional design at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he received his bachelor of fine arts degree. He earned his master of fine arts from the University of Cincinnati.

For gallery hours or to learn more about the exhibit contact Nickole C. Lanham, North Central's gallery director, at (630) 637-5375 or nclanhammurray@noctrl.edu.