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KEANmag
The Higher Learning series is the latest in a long line of fashion-related
art that Senna has produced since high school. As a young student in
North Plainfield, his art teacher, Marylou Weingarten, first introduced
Senna to the work of Andy Warhol, Keith Herring, and graffiti artist
Futura 2000. Their disparate brands of pop, modern, and street art
would all contribute to the development of Senna’s unique style; a style
which first manifested itself in the custom t-shirt business he started at
age 13, and carried over into his designs for the independent brands,
pop-up stores, and gallery installations he would partner with during
his time at Kean.
Senna’s drive and talent for creative work intertwined well with the
modern design program at Kean’s Robert Busch School of Design (RBSD),
and immediately set him apart as a standout student, as the depth and
breadth of his work consistently impressed his instructors.
“From designing retail interiors for Toms® Shoes and producing his
own fashion brand while still in college, to designing the Duane Reade
“balance rewards” logo and bronzing Air Jordans, Matthew is a well-
versed creative.” said Robin Landa, distinguished professor at RBSD.
“Matthew’s works are created with the intention of sparking thought,
raising awareness of cultural issues, and inspiring personal growth.”
Senna also made an distinct impression with his independent spirit and
creative approach to project design. His senior portfolio - a leather-
bound autobiography - is still on display in the offices of RBSD. “Matt
followed his heart and experimented at every opportunity. His solutions
to course assignments were never conventional, and always came with
an emotional and thoughtful rationale as to why he must break the
rules. Matt was, and is, always ahead of the curve,” said Rose Gonnella,
Associate Dean of Michael Graves College, the home of RBSD.
After graduation from Kean, Senna headed west to California, where
he set up shop, first as a freelancer and later as a full-time designer at
a large firm with many clients. At first, the structure and routine were
comforting in their security, but eventually, he says, those same qualities
began to make him feel claustrophobic. The “daily grind” demanded all
of his energy, leaving none leftover to keep his independent projects
going. The lack of a personal creative outlet took its toll; those days, he
says, were the “darkest times,” and were what fueled his decision to take
the risk and break out on his own.
“I had stopped connecting with the process,” Senna says, “I was dealing
with CMOs and executives who would make decisions based on what
their niece liked or how fearful they were of losing their jobs. There was
no passion...There was no fulfillment.”
The stress of the situation kept him up at night. Although he doesn’t
describe himself as a religious person, found himself reaching out
for spiritual guidance. One night, in desperation, he asked for
someone to send him a sign; “Everything went silent, and all I heard
was ‘let go.’”
So he did. Senna quit his steady, secure, and comfortable design firm,
and leased a small studio space in the same day. “The hardest part was
committing,” he says, “It took me 30 years to trust myself.”
Despite no longer having a tangible “safety net,” Senna finally felt free to
pursue his vision; though it was, by nomeans, easy. “It was a real struggle...
You have to learn to have a thick skin. Trust in yourself to create.” Thoughts
of his grandfather were at the forefront of his mind during this time,
helping to maintain his motivation, his vision, and his belief in himself.
Senna kicked off what would become his distinctive “Higher Learning”
series with his own worn pair of Air Jordan XIs. He now uses a variety of
processes in his work for the series, but the first iterations (which he calls
his “studies”) were bronzed canvas and leather sneakers.
After his first bronze XIs were complete, he shared his work on social
media, via his instagram account (@msenna), and it wasn’t long before
(left ) Common shows off his Senna-made, solid gold Jordan's on
Jimmy Kimmel Live,
soon after receiving his Academy Award for Best Original Song;
(center) Matt Senna '07 speaking at Kean's Thinking Creatively Conference; (right) Senna pictured with award-winning R&B star Usher.
