The paintings of Matt Read are an exploration of space and a navigation of the architectural and natural worlds. This line of thought began during a series of observational paintings of everyday objects placed against a white studio wall, when Matt realised his interest lay more in the backdrop than the objects themselves. And so, the challenge became in the depiction of a white wall that gave enough space and context to realistically place an object in, and the hunt began for surfaces, walls and barriers that would allow an exploration of this concept from a new angle. 

Matt’s degree show work is an investigation of the window as a subject, painting from observation but also painting and thinking about the window more conceptually, at once a threshold and barrier. In daylight hours a window can reflect its surroundings and screen the interior from external view, while at night it can glow with light, drawing a passerby’s attention like a moth to a flame. The window provides a simple structure (a series of rectangles) within which we can let our imagination take control; we can see the rest of the world through a window, or we can see ourselves reflected back; we can see a glimpse of a stranger’s life or an empty room. The window gives our imagination the necessary limitation to get to work.

Matt graduated from Kenyon College with a BA in Studio Art, and from Camberwell College of Arts with an MA in Fine Art Painting.