FROM THE IMRESSIONS COLLECTION
2025 | By Pablo Matute
Description
At the end of a long day, when the dust settles and the echoes of labor fade, what remains is the quiet ritual of gathering, collecting, and closing the chapter of work. This piece, rendered in charcoal on paper, captures that moment—both as a physical act and an emotional state. The trash bags, heavy yet necessary, become a metaphor for completion, for the weight of effort, and the satisfaction of a job well done.
Abstract yet deeply grounded in reality, the composition evokes the contrast between exhaustion and fulfillment. The deep blacks of the charcoal mirror the grit of labor, while the softer textures suggest a moment of reflection, a pause before the next day begins. The artwork is a tribute to hard work, to the unseen gestures that mark the end of a day’s toil, and to the quiet peace that follows.
Pablo Francisco Matute (b. 1999, Ecuador) is a visual artist based in Miami, whose work is shaped by his upbringing in South Florida. Matute’s art delves into the intersection of labor, culture, and space, using unconventional surfaces and transparent mediums like charcoal to capture the layered essence of his memories. This unique approach evokes the multifaceted nature of Latino identity and the physical and emotional labor that contributes to the shaping of personal and collective spaces.
A graduate of Florida International University with a Bachelor of Arts, Matute has exhibited in numerous spaces, including the Doral Museum of Contemporary Art, The University of Nova’s Gallery 217, and Laundromat Art Space, where he is also an ongoing resident. A recipient of the 2024 Artist Innovation Grant from the Broward Cultural Division, his work has been featured in various publications and exhibitions, continuing to contribute to the cultural dialogue of Miami's vibrant art scene.