Matt Bodett is a Chicago-based artist whose work spans visual art, poetry, and performance. He has exhibited internationally, including at the Freud Museum in London and the No Limits Festival in Berlin. His practice draws on an engagement with art history, reimagining classical works through contemporary perspectives. In addition to his visual art, Matt has performed and exhibited at cultural institutions such as Steppenwolf Theatre and the Poetry Foundation in Chicago. He is the founder and director of the Center for Mad Culture located in Chicago, which promotes conversations around art and identity, fostering local and global mad conversations.

Artist Statement

My artwork disrupts the historical and and material connections between madness, privilege, and confinement. Drawing on personal experiences with madness, I reimagine classical art and myths to critique assumptions about mental health, reframing it as a deeply human and creative identity. Using historical material as a lens, my work challenges romanticized and medicalized views of madness, advocating for its recognition as a vital part of human experience. My creative process balances intuitive playfulness with critical exploration, aiming to transform perceptions of madness and inspire dialogue about its complexities. Through art, I envision new possibilities for understanding and embracing mad identities.