When Milo Matthieu came to Los Angeles on March 1st, 2020, he had no idea that the world was on  the brink of a global pandemic and world-wide quarantines. After a week at The Cabin LA, it became  clear to Matthieu and First that he would either need to return home or stay in Los Angeles to wait  things out ⎯ Matthieu chose the latter. This decision resulted in an amazing four-month residency  and the creation of an impressive series of 42 paintings by Matthieu. This work, A Mirage, the Tragic  Comedy, harkens to the tragic comedies of Shakespeare. Tragic comedies usually have improbable  and complex plots; characters of high social class; contrasts between villainy and virtue; love of  different kinds at their center; a hero who is saved at the last minute after a touch-and-go experience;  as well as many surprises including plot twisting treachery. Here, Matthieu paints a story that involves  racial issues, love, envy, freedom, and the potential death of the subject. All the while, masked  characters attempt to hide their true motives and participation in acts of social injustice. Matthieu  draws much of his inspiration for his art from his own memories and subconscious. By practicing  psychic automatism (the process of writing or creating art based on one’s thoughts unfettered by  reason, aesthetics, or moral concern) as many of the Surrealists did, Matthieu says that he was able  to allow his ideas to flow naturally from his body to the canvas. Matthieu is represented by Sorry  We’re Closed.