BIOGRAPHY
Born in 1984 in Mildura, Australia, Matt R Martin took up life drawing as an adolescent under the tutelage of Steve Hederics, and later studied graphic art. He relocated to Melbourne, Australia where his studies continued in fine art and illustration through a variety of media. Martin’s foray into oil painting began in 2007, independently developing and exploring his skills in this field.
Matt R Martin’s varied background has led him to develop an appreciation for the subtle nuances of human gesture. A myriad of artistic influences, including his mother’s passion for classical ballet, instilled a sense of the capability of the human form for expression far beyond that which can be achieved with words. His work explores not only human postures and proprioception, but also its orientation which forces the viewer to consider the human form along with its various gestures, shapes, and expressions of body language. Martin’s artworks reflect his ethos regarding figurative art as timeless, aiming to forge an emotional connection between artist and viewer through such a humble medium.
CV
Born: 1984 Mildura VIC, Australia
Representation: Scott Livesey Galleries – Armadale, Australia
RJD Gallery – NY. USA
Exhibitions:
2018 A fine Romance: Realism in Australian Art, Gippsland Art Gallery
2018 BIG ART, small canvas, RJD Gallery, Bridgehampton, New York
2018 Women Painting Women/Men Painting Men: Voice with Vision, RJD Gallery, Bridgehampton, New York
2018 On The Edge Of… RJD Gallery, Bridgehampton, New York
2018 Matt R Martin , RJD Gallery, Bridgehampton, New York
2018 ‘W.O.P’ Group show, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne
2017 ‘Winter Salon’ Group show, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourn
2017 ‘Equilibrium’ Solo exhibition, Scott Livesey Gallery, Melbourne
2017 ‘Art Central’ Art Central Hong Kong 2017 Hill Smith Gallery, Hong Kong, China
2016 ‘Summer Salon’ Group show, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne
2016 ‘602’ Art fair, Group show, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne
2016 TheKilgour prize ‘Group show, Newcastle Art Gallery, Newcastle
2016 ‘Figurative II’ Group show, Gallery 1261, Denver, Colorado, US
2015 ‘Paintguide’ Group show, Unit London Gallery, London, UK
2015 Sydney Contemporary SYDNEY ART FAIR 2015, Scott Livesey Stand, Sydney
2015 ‘The Salon’, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne
2014 Glencore Percival Portrait Prize 2014, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville
2014 ‘Twenty Fourteen’, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne
2014 MELBOURNE ART FAIR 2014, Scott Livesey Galleries Stand, Melbourne
2014 Maritime ANL Art Prize 2014, Group Show at at the historic seafarers’,Docklands
2014 Benalla Nude Art prize 2014, Group Show at Benalla Art Gallery
2013 Summer 2013, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne
2013 ‘Personae’ featuring Ron Francis, Matt R Martin, Lily Mae Martin and Heidi Yardley Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne
2013 Winter Selection, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne
2013 ‘Big and Small’, Paintings by Melbourne Artists, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne
2012 ‘Interwoven and Undone’ solo exhibition, Scott Livesey Gallery, Melbourne
2012 ‘Metro Gallery Art Award 2012’ Group Show, Metro Gallery, Melbourne
2012 ‘Taboo’, beinArt International Art Collective Group Exhibition, Last Rites Gallery, New York, US
2012 R andM McGivern Art Prize 2012 ‘Group Show’ Maroondah Art Gallery, Melbourne
2012 ‘Group Show’, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne
2011 ‘Stockroom Show’, Scott Livesey Galleries, Melbourne
2011 ‘Metro Gallery Art Award 2011’ Group Show, Metro Gallery, Melbourne
2011 Solo Exhibition, CoproGallery Santa Monica California US
2011 ‘Dystopia’ beinArt International Art Collective Group Exhibition, CoproGallery, Santa Monica, California, US
2010 ‘Metro Gallery Art Award 2010’ Group Show, Metro Gallery, Melbourne
2010 ‘Metamorphosis’ beinArt International Art Collective Group Exhibition, CoproGallery, Santa Monica, California, US
2010 Grand Opening Group Show, 696 ink Gallery
2008 Illustre Graduate Exhibition at Chapel Off Chapel gallery, Melbourne
Academic Achievements:
2008 Diploma of Illustration NMIT Preston, Melbourne
2008 Certificate IV Design NMIT Preston, Melbourne
2008 Life Drawing 8 years Art Sunraysia Institute of TAFE, Mildura & NMIT Preston, Melbourne
2006 1 year of Fine Art Diploma NMIT Preston, Melbourne
2003 2 years of Graphic Art Diploma Sunraysia Institute of TAFE, Mildura
Art residencies:
2017 The Art Vault, Mildura Vic Australia
Art Prizes:
2016 Finalist for TheKilgour prize ‘Group show at Newcastle Art Gallery, Newcastle
2014 Glencore Percival Portrait Prize 2014, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville, Queenland
2014 Finalist in Maritime ANL Art Prize 2014, Group Show at the historic seafarers’ centre at 717 Flinders Street, Docklands
2014 Finalist for Benalla Nude Art prize 2014, Group Show at Benalla Art Gallery
2012 Finalist for Metro Gallery Art Award 2012, Group Show at Metro Gallery, Melbourne
2012 Finalist for R and M McGivern Art Prize 2012, Group show at Maroondah Art Gallery, Melbourne
2011 Finalist for Metro Gallery Art Award 2011, Group Show at Metro Gallery, Melbourne
2010 Finalist for Metro Gallery Art Award 2010, Group Show at Metro Gallery, Melbourne
2008 Eckersley’s Award for Excellence in Illustration, Illustre Graduate Exhibition Chapel Off Chapel Gallery
Selected Publications:
2018 4 page Feature , American Art Collector Magazine
2018 Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine
2017 12 page feature Beautiful Bizarre Magazine
2016 21stCentury figurative Art : The Resurrection of Art, Book
2016 Paintguide, Book
2016 Snapshots of Life, American Art Collector,
2015 Skilled NSFW Oil Paintings By Matt R. Martin Juxtapoz
2013 FeatureEMPTY magazine
2013 Go Figure: human side comes back to life by Ashley Crawford, Financial Review
2012 Matt Martin 3 page interview by Owen Craven, Artist Profile
2011 Drifting in the right direction, Maribyrnong Leader
Collections: Numerous private collections, Australia and internationally
