Artist’s Biography

It is the solitary uniqueness of the individual artist that undeniably comes  shining through the artwork that which makes the piece truly alive, vibrant, and masterful. This philosophy in which freely divulged individual uniqueness = proof of vibrancy, and life is ingrained deeply within me, and therefore imparted into my work. I am constantly ruminating on this moral concept of artistry, and equally then the creative value of each new piece of my own.

As a young boy, I discovered much of my passion for individual expression and creation while surrounding myself around a variety of visual, literary, and musically expressive conduits. I was extremely fortunate to grow up amongst a seemingly infinite supply of immensely intelligent and talented family members and friends, giving me a constant immersion into the arts in all its forms. Musicians, Writers, and Artists abounded from all sides of our family – and beyond.

It regularly gave me reason to pause and reflect on what life was really about even at a very young age. I have never forgotten that most important lesson – whether it was given verbally, or through the multitude of tangible examples. It is not the cogs you turn nor the widgets you make during your life that will ever afford you the miraculous and exalted feelings of being truly alive. No, for those kinds of most rarified and unsurpassed feelings, feelings beyond our own humanness, there is only creation. The kind of creation that comes deep from within you – derived from a place from whence you came. Being part of this purely living in the moment realm, harboring in its own sense of reality – is nothing less than true bliss. As well, knowing and understanding that during these rarified spells we are tapping (to the core) into our own uniquely individual life energy. When we are fortunate enough to be living in these types of a moments, we approach at the very deepest levels – our own personal and universal causation.

This magical philosophical state was further enhanced by being surrounded throughout my years by Joan Beringer-Pripps, a lifetime artist. Better known to me as just aunt Joanie, I grew up in a house filled with visual splendor adorned with her endless array of beautiful artworks. My relationship with my aunt was wonderful, and it added a great deal to help me appreciate what magic can be accomplished with brush, palette – and mindset.
A full-time and classically trained artist residing in Northern Woods of Wisconsin, my aunt Joan spent all of her years creating from any and every medium she could lay her hands on. Her vast bodies of her 2D wall art (paintings, drawings, etchings & pastels) are still revered throughout the Midwest (and the country). The majority balance of her work falls under the headings of Realism & Impressionism. She was a true master of her craft, in every way, and a lifelong champion of arts. I learned a great deal from Aunt Joan about the fundamentals of fine art and its creative processes, and maybe even more of what it really meant to be an artist, from the inside out. She understood and believed fully in the philosophy stated above, that creation = life.

Separate to the wonderful lessons learned from within the family experience, my personal training goes way back to the days of my initial interest in the arts as a young child. I had more than a fascination from little on and involved myself whenever and wherever possible in all art worlds – visual, literary & musical.  This pattern has carried throughout all grades, elementary through college, and well beyond that.

The past two decades have been focused on increasing my understanding of my own creative process. This has been done through extensive personal study and research, specialized training (academic and otherwise), and just a lot of good old “hands-on” practical trial and error. It’s an endless journey to refine and sometimes redefine one’s work as we go – and I happily do it with the greatest of pleasure.

To describe my style I would say that the greater majority of my current body of work falls under the Abstract and Abstract Expressionist art classifications. The mainstay of my current work falls under: Linear & Geometric Abstractions, Abstract Expressionist, Cubism and Synthetic Cubism, and some variant Impressionism and Surrealism.

I must say that I am a huge fan of both Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso, especially during the early 1900′s when Cubism had it’s day. I enjoy all forms of Cubism: Analytical Cubism, Synthetic Cubism and Crystalline Geometry. I thoroughly enjoy creating works derived from this era – with my own personal flare, while maintaining the use of the Cubism and Geometric design tools from Braque & Picasso as my foundation.

Predominantly then my work falls under modern and post-modern, and contemporary  art genres. Although this best describes the majority of my current work, I would not limit myself into saying that I am confined to it strictly. I can (and do) produce a variety of other types and styles of 2D and 3D wall art.

My pigment mediums are mostly acrylics, with some use of oils, with a wide variety of mixed medias usage as well. I generally produce the artwork on canvas, but also do work on a variety of other platforms such as wood, wood panel, and corrugations.

It is my goal to attempt to keep some variety represented on this site. That said, – there will always be exponentially even more-so available for viewing and purchase at my studio/gallery.

Enjoy your viewing today and don’t hesitate to contact me as needed -

Carpe Diem,

Matt