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Matthew Spiegelberg's Works of Art

Before his death in April 2009, he was a talented student in the midst of transforming his art -- and himself.

Matthew Spiegelberg, pictured here in 2007, died in April at age 25. He studied first at the Maryland Institute College of Art and later in a graduate program at Hunter College in New York City.

Matthew Spiegelberg, pictured here in 2007, died in April at age 25. He studied first at the Maryland Institute College of Art and later in a graduate program at Hunter College in New York City.

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An untitled, undated work by Matthew Spiegelberg. His art moved from realist to splashy abstract works as he left undergrad.

An untitled, undated work by Matthew Spiegelberg. His art moved from realist to splashy abstract works as he left undergrad.

Courtesy Spiegelberg family

One of Spiegelberg's works, created while he was studying at Hunter College. In his application essay to the graduate program, he said he had "built a body of work that feels like my own."

One of Spiegelberg's works, created while he was studying at Hunter College. In his application essay to the graduate program, he said he had "built a body of work that feels like my own."

Courtesy Chelly Vestal

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The bulk of Spiegelberg's work at Hunter was in the form he had begun in college: a pastiche of imagery appropriated from computer screens and painted in oil and acrylic.

The bulk of Spiegelberg's work at Hunter was in the form he had begun in college: a pastiche of imagery appropriated from computer screens and painted in oil and acrylic.

Courtesy Spiegelberg family

Spiegelberg's work reveals the vision of someone that a few people had known intimately and many had known only distantly: electric but controlled, complex but articulate, hard-won and unfinished.

Spiegelberg's work reveals the vision of someone that a few people had known intimately and many had known only distantly: electric but controlled, complex but articulate, hard-won and unfinished.

Courtesy Chelly Vestal

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Courtesy Chelly Vestal

"He wanted to hate everything but he wanted to love it too," says Kristin Trethewey, whom Spiegelberg had begun dating a few months before his death.

"He wanted to hate everything but he wanted to love it too," says Kristin Trethewey, whom Spiegelberg had begun dating a few months before his death.

Courtesy Spiegelberg family

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Courtesy Spiegelberg family

Gallery Credits:
Photo Editor, Producer Troy Witcher Text Editor Amanda McGrath

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