"Identity Workers" Project - Artist Bio: Matthew Gilboy
Channel: m f g
Date: 2014-10-09

Hi! My name is Matthew Gilboy, I am one of the artists involved in the Identity Workers project. We are seeking funding to create a series of paintings. As such, we want you to know who we are so that you know who you are helping when you contribute to our campaign.

I am from Youngstown, Ohio originally and currently live in Chicago. I have lived with a diagnosis of epilepsy for about twenty years. From this year alone, I have 70K in unpaid medical debt.

The conceptual basis for my work is heavily informed by the critical work of Judith Butler and Simi Linton.

Typically I work in oil on canvas or spray paint and paint marker on canvas.

As you can probably make out behind me, my primary motifs are human figures in heavily abstracted representation.

My interest in this work centers on the Identity Work that I do to present as an independent, not needy person, that poses no risk to himself and requires no pity or paternalism.

This work is not generally recognized by society at large, even though it requires a lot of energy and resources. Many people do this work, not just people with epilepsy or other disabilities.

I want to create art that reaches out to those people to say:
 - Yes, there are others doing this work.
 - Yes, it is exhausting.
 - Yes, success just means you neutralize your identity to make other people comfortable or otherwise get them to skip projecting stereotypes on to you.
 - This is what Identity Work looks like when I do it.

Thank audience for consideration. You can support our work here: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/identity-workers-terraforming-faces/x/8533479