Machine Dazzle

Machine Dazzle is a New York-based artist and costume designer who has gained widespread recognition for his spectacular and avant-garde creations. Born Matthew Flower in rural Pennsylvania, Machine Dazzle moved to New York City in the early 1990s to pursue a career in the arts. He quickly became involved in the downtown performance scene and began designing costumes for a variety of experimental theater productions.

Machine Dazzle's designs are known for their bold colors, intricate details, and unconventional materials. He often incorporates found objects and recycled materials into his creations, giving them a distinctive and eco-friendly edge. His costumes have been described as "wearable sculptures" and have been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world.
In addition to his work as a costume designer, Machine Dazzle is also a performer in his own right. He has collaborated with a number of artists and companies, including Taylor Mac, The Builders Association, and Julie Atlas Muz. He has also performed in a number of his own works, including "The Beast of Times" and "Unicornicopia."
Machine Dazzle's work has been featured in a number of high-profile productions on and off-Broadway. He designed the costumes for the Tony Award-winning revival of "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" starring Neil Patrick Harris, as well as the Broadway production of "The Rocky Horror Show." He also designed the costumes for the off-Broadway hit "Taylor Mac's A 24-Decade History of Popular Music," which won the 2017 Edward M. Kennedy Prize for Drama Inspired by American History.
In addition to his work in theater, Machine Dazzle has also designed costumes for a number of music videos and live performances. He has worked with a diverse range of musicians, including David Byrne, Rufus Wainwright, and Justin Vivian Bond.
Machine Dazzle's unique and boundary-pushing designs have earned him numerous accolades and awards. In 2014, he was awarded a Bessie Award for his costume design work, and in 2018 he was named a MacArthur Fellow, receiving a prestigious "Genius Grant" for his contributions to the arts.
Most recently, Machine Dazzle designed the costumes for the Broadway production of "Hadestown," a musical retelling of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth set in a post-apocalyptic world. The production, which opened in April 2019, was a critical and commercial success, winning eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Costume Design for Machine Dazzle.