Matthew Petrucci

Biography

SHORT BIOGRAPHY MATTHEW PETRUCCI
Matthew Petrucci is an expressionist/figurative fine art painter.
He commenced ‘full-time’ painting, in 2011, after retiring from three decades in education. However, his formative art training began, a little earlier, in 2005, with traditional tonalist painter, Fiona Bilbrough (a member of the Twenty Melbourne Painters Society), and impressionist landscape painter, John Bredl, in 2007. This followed a short stint with contemporary art tutor, Kerry Ann Sullivan, in 2013. Oil paint is his preferred medium.

Whilst Matthew’s initial art education began with traditional and impressionist influences, a restless desire to strike away from the well-worn painting formulas he was taught, and to do something different, beckoned. A trip to New York, in 2014, to see the works of the American Abstract expressionist painters (past and current) was an epiphanic episode that would profoundly change the way he viewed artwork. It was the beginning of his new creative trajectory into figurative painting; culminating in the creation of his current series of work, broadly entitled ‘Private Thoughts’, which continues to morph into related themes.

A love for painting the human figure and landscapes, lead to a marriage of the two, but in a more contemporary context. Matthew’s current work dramatically depicts moody gestural figures, set against colourful non-representational backgrounds. He explores the morphology of the human figure to create a sense of longing and loneliness in his paintings. Loneliness in a good sense; as in solitude, or as in a need to transform oneself. His faceless figures, with their unhewn features, and brewing sense of drama and emotional intensity, seem to deepen their mystery and intrigue. The bold use of colour, suggests varying emotional states and moods that contribute to his work’s overall gravity! This basic design approach, lends visual dynamics to Matthew’s, simple but profound compositions, setting up psychologically charged narratives. The figures could be perceived metaphorically as self-portraits of the artist or of the viewer!

In 2015, Matthew exhibited works from his current series, ‘Private Thoughts’, for the first time, winning ‘Best Painting’ in his price category (St Kevin’s College Art Show), and a ‘Highly Commended’ at the Camberwell Art Show. In 2016, he was awarded ‘Best Contemporary Painting’ at the Bayside Art Show, and in 2017, received the ‘Best Contemporary Painting’ award, at the Grand Art Show (Berwick). In 2018, was awarded BEST NON-TRADITIONAL PAINTING CAMBERWELL ART SHOW. He won BEST OIL (under $1.500) at the Whitehorse Art Show (Box Hill) in 2022, and in 2023 received a BEST OIL PAINTING IN SHOW award, at the Mornington Art Show. His works are in private collections in Australia and overseas.
For more profile information, go to www.mpetrucci.com