Matt Wisniewski and The Stuff of Dreams

Words by Costas Voyatzis

9 January 2012

Matt Wisniewski and The Stuff of Dreams

Words by Costas Voyatzis

9 January 2012

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Once you encounter the work of Matt Wisniewski, it’s impossible not to be captivated by the enchanting fusion of natural elements with the heads and bodies of his visual characters. A self-taught collage artist born in 1990 in Philadelphia and currently based in Brooklyn, NY, Matt has spent most of his life experimenting with various artistic media. Fascinated by the wealth of creative imagery found online—of which he is an active contributor—Matt combines his passion for art with his technical pursuits.

Currently completing a computer science degree at the Rochester Institute of Technology and working as a web developer, Matt dedicates his free time to crafting poetic collages that serve as windows into his dreams. His personal inspiration board, titled “Five Minutes to Live,” showcases his transformative process of turning reality into a dream—and vice versa.

We sat down with Matt to delve into his creative journey and explore his unique approach to blending the tangible and the ethereal. Discover a selection of his collage series, including Futur Couture, My Home Is the Sea, Mineral Minds, Miles to Go, Halogen Forest, and Cold Embrace, among others, while enjoying his exclusive interview with Yatzer.

video © Matt Wisniewski

photo collage © Matt Wisniewski

Apart from being a web developer, you could also be described as a portraitist of the subconscious. How did it all begin?

I’m not really happy unless I’m doing something active, so I’ve had a lot of time to experiment. I’ve been creating things on the web and using Photoshop since my late childhood or early teens, and I’ve been making art for as long as I can remember. My collages are really the product of all this experimentation.

What is your creative process when working on collages? Do you start with the portrait or the natural elements?

Typically, I start with a portrait. Then I experiment with quick combinations of textures until something catches my eye. Occasionally, I have an idea in mind when I begin, but most of the time, I’m just trying to create something entirely new.

Do you believe in dreams? Are you afraid of nightmares?

Do dreams stem from reality? Sure, ideas have to come from somewhere. But are my experiences in a dream actually happening? No, definitely not. As for nightmares, I can’t even recall the last time I had one. I’m not someone who’s easily terrified.

photo collage © Matt Wisniewski
photo collage © Matt Wisniewski
photo collage © Matt Wisniewski
photo collage © Matt Wisniewski
photo collage © Matt Wisniewski

What is your relationship with the physical and spiritual worlds?

My relationship with the physical world isn’t particularly unusual, though I’m capable of detaching myself from it occasionally. As for the spiritual world, I don’t have any connection to spirits.

According to French physician Alfred Maury, “We dream of what we have seen, said, desired, or done.” What inspires you, if not the material of dreams?

Other people inspire me. I’m constantly fascinated by what we, as humans, are capable of and am eager to see what we’ll accomplish next.

Stormy seas, rocky landscapes, floods, and angry waves often appear in your work. Are you intentionally raising awareness of environmental issues, or is it purely an aesthetic choice?

Not at all—my focus isn’t on raising awareness. I simply enjoy the beauty of nature.

"Do dreams stem from reality? Sure, ideas have to come from somewhere. But are my experiences in a dream actually happening? No, definitely not. As for nightmares, I can’t even recall the last time I had one. I’m not someone who’s easily terrified."

photo collage © Matt Wisniewski

Your personal digital inspiration board is titled “Five Minutes to Live.” Why did you choose this name, and what does death mean to you?

I named it “Five Minutes to Live” because it started as a space for quick experiments—pieces I’d complete in about five minutes. I didn’t save the layers or any files apart from the final image, so the results were definitive and couldn’t be altered. It reflects my preferred workflow: trying many ideas quickly, then refining the promising ones later.

The title itself is a bit of an inside joke—I imagine that if I had five minutes to live, I’d open Photoshop and create something. It’s a way of using that time to make something lasting, something that wouldn’t die with me. As for death, I don’t give it much thought beyond the practical considerations of preserving life, like avoiding dangerous situations or unhealthy behaviors.

One of your collage series is titled “Futur Couture.” Can you predict the future of the fashion industry?

Not at all. That said, there seems to be a growing trend toward a more daring and diverse use of color, which is reflected in that series. I can’t say for sure whether any fashion designers will take inspiration from my work—but it’s always a possibility.

What are your future plans?

I have several projects planned with different photographers, though I’m not sure which ones will actually come to fruition or when. One project, in particular, focuses on the architecture of New York.

I’m also working on creating larger, printable pieces, as most of my best work is still small. I don’t know many photographers personally, but collaborating with them to scale up my projects is something I’m excited about.

Where do you see Matt Wisniewski ten years from now?

Ideally, I’d like to be married and financially self-sufficient, thanks to my past projects. That would give me the freedom to create whatever I feel inspired to—whether that’s a web project, collage, or something entirely different.