Matthew Sansom
Matthew's artwork expresses themes drawn from Plein air, still life, figurative studies, drawing, and alla prima technique being at the foundation of his art-making practice. Responding to nature and light is a constant theme in his image-making. Matthew often works in situ with a portable painting kit, exploring a direct interpretation of places that offer natural beauty and inspiration.
After training in Art and Design - Geelong TAFE, (1993) Matthew lived between country Victoria and Melbourne where he was involved in community theater, set and costume design for dance, and pantomime. Between 1998-2000 he worked with the Chandrabhanu Dance Company and School of Classical Arts as a lighting and stage assistant to Geoffrey Goldie. During this time of exposure to theater, costume, and stage design he also produced a collection of paintings and drawings for the Brunswick Art Collective. These formative years set the foundation for his artistry.
During four years living in the UK and Europe, he became involved with the Devon Plein-air painters. He gained exposure to galleries across Europe and the United Kingdom which consolidated his love for landscape and botanical interpretation.
In 2004 he returned to Australia to further his creative portfolio.
In recent years Matthew has had four solo exhibitions locally and abroad.
Currently living in the Northern Rivers of NSW, his artwork can be viewed at his showroom GALLEON Bangalow.
Born 1974.
Ballarat, Victoria Australia
Grew up in Geelong, Victoria.
Solo Exhibitions
'ULYSSUS GARDEN'
La Ventana, Adliya, Kingdom of Bahrain,
March, 2016
NUAGES
Byron Bay, Australia
March 2018
CLOSE TO HOME
Gallery 3
Byron Bay, Australia
April 2021
WINTER LIGHT
The Lobby
Byron Bay
September 2021
Group Exhibitions
2022 Birds Gallery 3 Byron Bay. Kitchen Blue Bird.
2021 D'Arcy Doyle Awards, Mudgeeraba QLD. Looking back at Broken Heads.
2021 Birds, Gallery 3. The Raven, Spotted peafowl, Plover on Teal.
2020 Hurford Hardwood Portrait Prize, Lismore Regional Gallery. 'Fashioned from Clay'
2020 Border Art Prize, Tweed Heads National Gallery, 'Resilience'
2019 Gallery 7 prize. Byron Bay. 'Woebegone Raven'
2018 Border Art Prize, Tweed River National Gallery. Reclining Shoreline.
2017 Lethbridge 10 000, Brisbane. 'Tallow Wood'
2016 Border Art Prize. Tweed Regional Gallery, Qld. Woompoo Fruit Dove
2016 Ocean Shores Art Expo. ‘Banksia Branch’ and ‘Honeysuckle Hill’
2016 Byron Bay Art Expo, Byron Community Center. ‘Olive Oriole’
2014 Caldera Art Expo, Tweed River National Gallery. ‘Coucal Pheasant at sunrise’
2013 Northern Rivers Portrait Awards. Lismore Regional Gallery. Portrait of George C Weir.
2009 Caldera Art Expo. The Center Beaudesert. ‘Closed Forest of the Caldera’
Awards and Prizes
2019 Second place, Ocean Shores Art Expo, Grass Trees at Dawn.
2018 Second place, Ocean Shores Art Expo, Bridge over Tallow Creek.
2017 Third place, Fruits Gallery, Lismore. 'Reclining shoreline"
2017 Third place (acrylics and oils) Ocean Shores Art Expo, "Tallow Wood".
2016 First prize (Acrylic and oils) Ocean Shores Art Expo. ‘Banksia Branch’
2012 Second place (Acrylics and oils) 'A Moonlit Summers Night'. Ocean Shores Art Expo.
2009 First place, Caldera Art Expo 'Closed Forests of the Caldera’. Beaudesert Regional Gallery.
Bibliography
2013 Nature series published by Blue Island Press, in gift cards.
2015 Artworks and artists' statements featured in the editorial 'Acrylic Sachet Mixte Themes' France.
2017 The Zoc publishing house. Images and artist statement. Indiana USA.
2023 Northern Rivers Times, image and artist statement. NSW Australia.
Gift card range with Galleon Bangalow NSW Australia.
2023 paints and prints used by Roadhouse Productions for the mini-series 'Apples Never Fall' (Peacock/Binge)