Charles Edward Kerbs (August 8, 1940 – March 4, 2002), better known by his pen nameMATT, was an American artist, actor, and playwright active in the late twentieth century, known for his erotic comics and illustrations.[1][2]
Kerbs was born on August 8, 1940, in New Orleans, Louisiana.[2] He began working professionally while still in high school, painting a mural in the cafeteria of Easton High School, from which he graduated in 1959.[2]
In the 1960s, Kerbs submitted his portfolio to Bob Mizer, who loved Kerbs' work and published it in Athletic Model Guild. According to Bill Schmeling, Mizer suggested Kerbs adopt the pen name MATT because of his talent for depicting "men-on-the-mats."[1] Kerbs's erotic drawings were massively successful, appearing in major leather, S&M, and fetish publications such as Drummer[3][4] and Honcho.[1][5] In the 1970s Kerbs' art was featured in the Galley House in New Orleans, followed by Stompers Gallery and the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art in New York.[1] He was featured at the Tom of Finland Foundation's Erotic Art Fair in 1995 and 1996.[1]
During the 1970s Kerbs also worked for D.H. Holmes, designing an art nouveau mural for the company's Bourbon Street restaurant as well as elaborate holiday displays.[2] He also created costumes and posters for gay Carnival balls.
Kerbs had a passion for live theater. In 1964 he conducted an acting workshop for Free Southern Theater. In 1965 he played the lead role of Finch in a production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying by Gallery Circle Theatre.[2] After the show closed, he moved to Manhattan in New York City to pursue a career as an actor and playwright.[2] He wrote several plays, but did not find notable success.[2] During this time, he supported himself by designing fabrics and wallpaper patterns (with additional financial assistance from his mother, Rose).[2] In 1970, he and his friend Lyla Hay Owen formed their own theater, the People Playhouse, which produced several of Kerbs' plays.[2] Around this time he moved back to New Orleans.[2]
Kerbs was diagnosed with heart problems sometime in the 1970s.[1] In his last years, he began self-publishing some of his art and adult comic books.[1] He died of pneumonia on March 4, 2002, while hospitalized for heart bypass surgery.[2][1] He was survived by his partner of 18 years, Jeff Johnson, who committed to continue making Kerbs' art available to his admirers.[1]
Cultural Impact & Legacyedit
In 1997, Brush Creek Media published an 80-page collection of his art titled 'Rasslers, 'ranglers & Rough Guys: The Erotic Art of Matt.[6]
In a tribute published by the Tom of Finland Foundation in 2002, Bill Schmeling described Kerbs as "the all time great erotic "Wrestling Artist"" and wrote:[1]
"Charles Kerbs was a gentle giant, a quiet, unassuming powerhouse of creative genius and energy. The man may have left us, but his spirit lives on in MATT."
Referencesedit
^ abcdefghijklm"Remembering Matt". World of Tom of Finland. Fall 2002. The Dispatch. 2002. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
^ abcdefghijk"Obituaries - Charles Edward Kerbs". Ambush magazine. Volume 20, Issue 6. Ambush Magazine. 2002. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
^"Drummer Magazine No 106 July 1987". Jack Fritscher. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
^"Drummer Magazine No 107 August 1987". Jack Fritscher. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
matt, charles, edward, kerbs, august, 1940, march, 2002, better, known, name, american, artist, actor, playwright, active, late, twentieth, century, known, erotic, comics, illustrations, borncharles, edward, kerbs, 1940, august, 1940new, orleans, louisianadied. Charles Edward Kerbs August 8 1940 March 4 2002 better known by his pen name MATT was an American artist actor and playwright active in the late twentieth century known for his erotic comics and illustrations 1 2 MATTBornCharles Edward Kerbs 1940 08 08 August 8 1940New Orleans LouisianaDiedMarch 4 2002 2002 03 04 aged 61 New Orleans LouisianaKnown forErotic drawingPartnerJeffrey JohnsonBiography editKerbs was born on August 8 1940 in New Orleans Louisiana 2 He began working professionally while still in high school painting a mural in the cafeteria of Easton High School from which he graduated in 1959 2 As a teenager Kerbs found a liking and talent for drawing the male form especially wrestlers cowboys leathermen and servicemen 1 He was an avid reader of the beefcake magazine Physique Pictorial and drew inspiration from gay artists such as Tom of Finland Harry Bush and Art Bob 1 His drawings were first published in Grecian Guild Pictorial when Kerbs was 16 years old 1 In the 1960s Kerbs submitted his portfolio to Bob Mizer who loved Kerbs work and published it in Athletic Model Guild According to Bill Schmeling Mizer suggested Kerbs adopt the pen name MATT because of his talent for depicting men on the mats 1 Kerbs s erotic drawings were massively successful appearing in major leather S amp M and fetish publications such as Drummer 3 4 and Honcho 1 5 In the 1970s Kerbs art was featured in the Galley House in New Orleans followed by Stompers Gallery and the Leslie Lohman Museum of Art in New York 1 He was featured at the Tom of Finland Foundation s Erotic Art Fair in 1995 and 1996 1 During the 1970s Kerbs also worked for D H Holmes designing an art nouveau mural for the company s Bourbon Street restaurant as well as elaborate holiday displays 2 He also created costumes and posters for gay Carnival balls Kerbs had a passion for live theater In 1964 he conducted an acting workshop for Free Southern Theater In 1965 he played the lead role of Finch in a production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying by Gallery Circle Theatre 2 After the show closed he moved to Manhattan in New York City to pursue a career as an actor and playwright 2 He wrote several plays but did not find notable success 2 During this time he supported himself by designing fabrics and wallpaper patterns with additional financial assistance from his mother Rose 2 In 1970 he and his friend Lyla Hay Owen formed their own theater the People Playhouse which produced several of Kerbs plays 2 Around this time he moved back to New Orleans 2 Kerbs was diagnosed with heart problems sometime in the 1970s 1 In his last years he began self publishing some of his art and adult comic books 1 He died of pneumonia on March 4 2002 while hospitalized for heart bypass surgery 2 1 He was survived by his partner of 18 years Jeff Johnson who committed to continue making Kerbs art available to his admirers 1 Cultural Impact amp Legacy editIn 1997 Brush Creek Media published an 80 page collection of his art titled Rasslers ranglers amp Rough Guys The Erotic Art of Matt 6 In a tribute published by the Tom of Finland Foundation in 2002 Bill Schmeling described Kerbs as the all time great erotic Wrestling Artist and wrote 1 Charles Kerbs was a gentle giant a quiet unassuming powerhouse of creative genius and energy The man may have left us but his spirit lives on in MATT References edit a b c d e f g h i j k l m Remembering Matt World of Tom of Finland Fall 2002 The Dispatch 2002 Retrieved 2024 01 08 a b c d e f g h i j k Obituaries Charles Edward Kerbs Ambush magazine Volume 20 Issue 6 Ambush Magazine 2002 Retrieved 2024 01 08 Drummer Magazine No 106 July 1987 Jack Fritscher Retrieved 2024 01 13 Drummer Magazine No 107 August 1987 Jack Fritscher Retrieved 2024 01 13 Honcho Magazine February 1987 cowboyfrank men February 1987 Honcho Magazine 2020 11 08 Retrieved 2024 01 08 Matt 1997 Rasslers ranglers amp Rough Guys The Erotic Art of Matt Brush Creek Media Portals nbsp LGBT nbsp Human sexuality nbsp Erotica and pornography nbsp Biography Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title MATT amp oldid 1200256363, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
