What was once pocket-sized and disposable is now monumental. Striking West turns vintage matchbooks into layered, nostalgic works of art.
Courtney Collins Fine Art is thrilled to announce the upcoming exhibition of renowned artist Dennis Bredow, titled Striking West. Join us on Wednesday, July 2, from 5 PM to 7 PM for an evening of art, inspiration, and community as we celebrate Bredow's latest body of work.
This series of ten large-scale mixed media paintings is inspired by vintage Western matchbooks—small objects once found on motel nightstands, bar counters, and diner tables. Designed to be both useful and promotional, matchbooks were utilitarian by nature yet often beautifully crafted, evoking a sense of place and memory though limited by a few square inches.
This body of work seeks to do the same—creating artifacts that draw the viewer in and offer a memory of a place and time. By dramatically increasing the scale, these paintings invite us to pause and truly see what we might otherwise dismiss. Once tucked in a pocket or purse, these matchbooks are now made monumental—giving weight and presence to the beauty that often goes unnoticed. Each piece is built through a layered process of paint, vintage paper, and advertising fragments. Whether the surface is left exposed to highlight texture or sealed beneath poured epoxy resin, this buildup of material gives the surface a sense of depth and history—echoing the tactile quality of the original object while elevating it into something new.
The work is part of my ongoing exploration of retro-inspired modern art—rooted in nostalgia, but shaped through a contemporary lens. Ultimately, these pieces are about memory: how we collect it, preserve it, and sometimes invent it. Just like the matchbooks they reference, I hope they become small sparks that remind viewers of a place, a feeling, or a story they didn’t know they’d forgotten.
