Artist Statement and Curriculum Vitae

Matthew Armstrong

www.armkeitstudio.com

https://www.stevensstreetgallery.com.au/artists

matt.armstrong@alumni.griffithuni.edu.au

Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast Queensland

Artist Statement

My paintings connect to the quintessential Australian landscape informed by my early years growing up in Dubbo, New South Wales. Now living and working in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, my artworks center on various contemporary mark-making techniques; using brushwork, palette knife, rough charcoal, acrylic, and ink lines, to suggest landscape movements, patterns, changing light and shadows. In addition to my art centering on contemporary expression in landscapes, my mark-making has further morphed into surrealist seascapes, experimenting with chalk, pastels. It has also included interpreting my ideas onto paper, lino prints and through clay work with ceramic tiles.

Trained and working in Graphic Facilitation and Community Development, I have also completed research on Visual Narration through Griffith University and hold training qualifications.

Published Research

Panning for Gold: The journey of mental health wellness and its relationship with Planning Alternatives Tomorrows with Hope (PATH) 2015

Journal of Social Inclusion (JoSI) Griffith University, Brisbane Australia

https://josi.org.au/articles/abstract/10.36251/josi.83/

Commissions, Exhibitions, Inspirations:

2024 March, 4 x Commissioned Paintings for Icon Place foyer refurbishment, Adelaide Street Brisbane.
2023, 2024 Echo Group Exhibition, Side Gallery, Red Hill, Queensland
2023 August, The Re-story of Place and Belonging, Land Street Gallery, Toowong QLD
2023 September, Abstraction Group Exhibition, Steven Street Gallery, Yaninda QLD
2023 October, Pocket Pieces Group Exhibition, Steven Street Gallery, Yandina QLD
2023 October, Daniel Butterworth: A Focus on Portraits, Landscapes or Still Life, 2 day Workshop, Brisbane.
2022 Marking Time and Place - an exploration of natural inks and mark making tools, Ann Harris, Sunshine Coast Regional Council, Caloundra QLD
2022 Colour Theory Workshop with Todd Whisson, Ron Bryant Fine Art Studio, Tamborine Mountain QLD
2021 August, September, Landscape Feature Artist, Stevens Street Gallery Yandina Queensland.
2019 Palette Knife Painting Workshop, Sydney Community College
2019 The Landscape of Brett Whitely, two-day professional masterclass, Noosa Queensland, National Art School with Noel Thurgate. 2019 Palette Knife Painting Workshop, one day Jacqueline Molina, Sydney Community College, Rozelle NSW
2018 The Landscape Painting of Brett Whitely, two-day professional Masterclass, National Art School, Moreton Bay Queensland
2018 The Essentials of Graphic Facilitation, one day workshop, Michelle Walker, Curious Minds, Melbourne Victoria
2018 Thomas Merton : prophecy and renewal, Rome, Italy

Arts Practitioner Membership:

Flying Arts Incorporated Queensland

Accredited Member

Exp 1st October 2025

Public Liability $20,000,000 any one occurrence

Art Competition Entries:

Earth Unframed, Belconnen Arts Centre ACT 2023
Ipswich Art Awards, QLD, 2023
Nature: Created by Nature, Captured by Artists, Richard Randall Art Studio Brisbane 2022, 2023
Arts Unlimited Exhibition Dunedoo NSW 2022
Arts Unlimited Exhibition Dunnedoo NSW 2021
Tower Art Exhibition Marist College Ashgrove Queensland 2021
Tower Art Exhibition Marist College Ashgrove Queensland 2020
Art Unlimited Exhibition Dunedoo NSW 2021
Caloundra Arts Market Queensland 2021

Selected Finalist for the following Awards:

31 Chambers Art Prize Brisbane 2024
The Doyles Art Award QLD 2022, 2023
Kangaroo Valley Arts Award NSW 2020
Moreton Bay Regional Art Awards QLD 2019
Moreton Bay Regional Art Awards QLD 2018
Lethbridge Small Scale Art Award QLD 2017
Moreton Bay Regional Arts Awards QLD 2017
Moreton Bay Regional Arts Awards QLD 2016
Moreton Bay Regional Art Awards QLD 2015

Arts Based Projects:

2024 - Recording Visual Stories, We recover better together Project, Community Praxis Coop Sunshine Coast Queensland
2023 - Graphic Recording Stories, Lived Experience Network (LEN) Griffith University Queensland
2022 - Art Healing Workshops, Compassionate Friends Queensland
2021, 2022, 2023 - Mark-making workshop, Loud and Clear Conference Queensland
2015 – Resident Artist, Your Story Matters Project, Griffith University.·
2012 – Present, Community Arts, Graphic Facilitator, and Workshop Facilitator – working alongside people with disability and their family members.
2014 – Present, Graphic Facilitation Trainer (Parent to Parent Association Queensland)
2016, Ipswich Arts Facilitator, West Moreton Mental Health Collaborative Planning Day
2016, Workshop Facilitator, building connection and belonging in art making, A Place to Belong, Brisbane Queensland.

Conference Presentations:

Graphic Facilitation and Future Planning, University of Sunshine Coast, 2020
PATH and recording visual stories, 2th Biennial Asia Pacific International Mental Health Conference, Brisbane, 2016
The North Star Abstract Presentation (Recording Visual Stories), Grounding the Sacred in Literature and The Arts, the Australian Catholic University, Sydney 2015
The North Star Abstract Presentation (Recording Visual stories), Arts and Health Conference, Melbourne 2014.