Mathias Spider Schergen
Mathias “Spider” Schergen, born in 1954 on the southwest side of Chicago, was the oldest of 11 children. Schergen studied art at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and received his BFA in 1980. From an early age, he was drawn to the visual qualities of texture and pattern and developed an appreciation for found objects. As a youth, he spent much of his time exploring the railroad prairies, truck yards, industrial parks and alleyways within his neighborhood. Discarded bits and pieces, scrap metal and natural materials became three-dimensional forms that were used to construct sculptures, boxes and assemblages. Later, he attended printmaking classes at Ox-Bow, a summer art school in Saugatuck, Michigan, that is affiliated with the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Incorporating handmade prints into his work has added another layer onto his already complex designs and provides self-expression and means to interpret the world around him. Mathias Schergen’s deep spiritual focus has helped to translate an already disciplined studio practice into heightened techniques and an expanded visual vocabulary. Decidedly family-oriented, he continues to cultivate a visual aesthetic that combines his familial sensibilities with large and small-scale constructions that are highly developed and yet have a down-to-earth awareness. Mathias Schergen teaches art in Cabrini Green in the Chicago Independent School District and is the 2005 recipient of the Golden Apple Award for excellence in teaching. His adopted name of “Spider” was coined for his students’ use. He currently lives in Chicago with his wife and two of their three children.
Mathias Schergen’s work has been exhibited in venues such as the Hyde Park Art Center, Beverly Art Center, Paper Press, Marwen Foundation, ARC Gallery, Artemisia and Genesis galleries. His work is included in many private collections.
