The whirring of gears and pistons, the whimsy of fantasy and the grit of the street kid made good, all combine into the art of Dale Mathis. A giant of a man with the heart of a poet, the mind of a master watchmaker and the imagination of a great surrealist, Dale Mathis’ mixed media, high relief sculptures and design objects defy the typical classifications of any art. The fantasy designs of H.G. Wells and Jules Verne coupled with an artist that any generation would be proud to call its own.
His creations also speak from the heart of the discordant struggle of urban American life. As a child, Dale was surrounded by gangs and crime. His family and art from the earliest ages shielded him and drew him to a path less traveled. Deeply inspired by artists Salvador Dali and Edmonia Lewis, art was his escape into another reality he could create for himself. He is a truly self-taught artist.
Dale’s artwork is in private collections in London, Italy, France, Russia, Turkey, Brazil, Philippines, Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand, Qatar, Dubai, Japan, China India and Mexico. Dale’s work has been seen on MTV’s Cribs and The Real World Las Vegas, HGTV’s Crafters Coast to Coast, Philippine Networks GMA and ABS-CBN. Features have been written in Playboy Magazine, the Las Vegas Review Journal, design magazines throughout Asia and international watch magazines in Europe and Latin America. After Dale moved to Las Vegas, he worked in the contracting and construction industry. Focusing primarily on casino facade and themed works, Dale’s projects included, Guggenheim Museum, Hermitage Museum, The Venetian Hotel, The Rio Hotel Casino, The Desert Inn Hotel, MGM Grand, Stratosphere
Education
Electromechanical design became Dale’s primary focus while he studied at Cerritos College, California. He explored the complex world of incorporating high-performance components, circuits and industrial automation. Previously, Dale studied architecture and drafting while attending Morningside High School in Inglewood, California. These classes awokened the possibility of bringing large objects to life.
Awards
• Beverly Hills Affaire in the Garden 2009, “Gil Borgos Award of Originality”
• CAC 2005, Best of Show
Publications
• YRB Magazine, Dec 2011
• Las Vegas City Life, Engineering Art, October 2011
• Sunshine Magazine, May 2011
• Blue Print Magazine, Gender and Design, August 2010
• Las Vegas Weekly, October 29th 2010
• “Inglewood Artist Creates Moving Pieces” Feature on Channel 11, Los Angeles, California, February 28, 2009
• After 8 Media- Presented by Garlason Group International, May 19th 2009
• The Magazine / LA, Los Angeles, California, February 28, 2009
• The Magazine of and for the Arts LA, February 2009
• MTV Cribs, Lil Mama, Los Angeles, California, 2009
• Art Business News, November 2008
• Playboy Magazine, October 2008
• Wired Magazine, June 19th 2008
• HGTV, “That’s Clever” staring Dale Mathis, 2006
• MTV, Real World XII, Las Vegas, Nevada, 2002
