Patrick May is a programmer and painter. He founded the artist collective Open Ground and was the Director of Technology at Rhizome.org from 2006-2008.
His artwork explores ambiguous identities and inner conflict. He assembles icons which mix imagery from video games, instruction manuals, and personal photography. The work challenges formal notions of painterly authority by combining mechanical and physical gestures in tense cohesive compositions.
Born Charleston, South Carolina, 1977
B.S. 1999 Studio Art New York University (cum laude)
Areas of Specialization: Photography, Painting, and Sculpture
2007
Underbelly, Brooklyn Artists Gym, Brooklyn, NY
Polished and Loud, Maiden Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY
2006
Fable, Naked Duck Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
American Diaspora, Victory Hall Cultural Center, Jersey City, NJ
2005
Brooklyn Kommt in den Wedding, Galerie Scherer 8, Berlin
2004
Surfeit, Zone: Chelsea Center for the Arts, New York, NY
liminal, Open Ground, Brooklyn
Local Talent / Small Works, Williamsburg Art and Historical Center, Brooklyn, NY
Seen it All, Williamsburg Art and Historical Center, Brooklyn, NY
Open Season, Open Ground, Brooklyn, NY
2003
Group exhibition at A's Place, New York, NY
Local Talent / Small Works, Williamsburg Art and Historical Center, Brooklyn, NY
In Security, Open Ground, Brooklyn, NY
Party Congress, Beekiller.net at The Williamsburg Publik House, Brooklyn, NY
The Planning Game, Open Ground, Brooklyn, NY
2002
Pool, Open Ground, Brooklyn, NY
2001
Heart and Movement, Open Ground, Brooklyn, NY
Installation 3, Open Ground, Brooklyn, NY
Installation 2, Open Ground, Brooklyn, NY
Installation 1, Open Ground, Brooklyn, NY
1998
The Underappreciated Monster, Rosenberg Gallery, NY
Open Source on the Line, Rhizome at the New School, 2007, NY
Presenter, Ruby / Smalltalk, Smalltalk NYC, 2006, NY
Panelist, Interesting Day Jobs: The Dual Lives of Creative Professionals, Pratt Institute, 2005, NY
Panelist, Blogging and the Arts, Rhizome at the New Museum, 2005, NY
Guest Lecturer, International Center Photography, 2005, NY
Presenter, Fourth International Ruby Conference, 2004, Washington, DC
Guest Lecturer, New York University, 2003, NY
Presenter, Second International Ruby Conference, 2002, Seattle, WA