Matt Talbert

"Last Night" – Oil Painting, Vulnerable Male Portrait in Dramatic Light

2023

Matt Talbert is a contemporary oil painter living in Southern California. Both a graduate from the Orange County School of the Arts and the Laguna College of Art and Design, he is now named one of the "Top 100 Figurative Artist Working Now" by Poets Artists Magazine. Matt's primary focus is expressive paintings of the human figure exhibited in galleries such as Arcadia Contemporary in Los Angeles and the Salmagundi Club in New York. While he grew up at the beach, Matt attributes much of his artistic development to his years spent in New York City. Working in the basement of the famous Pearl art store on Canal Street and meeting a wide range of artists from all disciplines was indispensable. You can find Matt’s work in recent issues of American Art Collector, International Artist, and Poets Artists Magazine. This summer he will be unveiling a large scale portrait commission for notable Australian architect Billy Kavellaris. I paint people, but I am more interested in conveying an emotional state rather than illustrating an outward appearance. I blur the line between our physical reality and the one that is going on in our heads. Using thick textures and bold colors, I combine both traditional and experimental techniques to enhance the emotions at play. Trusting my intuition, embracing spontaneity and doing so with confidence are the keys to my latest body of work. -Matt Talbert