Benedict Matthew

Matthew Benedict, an American contemporary artist known for his distinctive narrative style, was born in 1968 in Rockville, Connecticut. From an early age, Benedict exhibited a profound interest in art, a passion that led him to pursue formal education at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He further honed his craft and theoretical understanding by achieving a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1991 from Eugene Lang College, The New School for Social Research in New York, NY.

Benedict’s artistic career is marked by a series of significant achievements and exhibitions. He has developed a unique visual language that challenges and reinterprets visual traditions from both high and low culture. His approach draws heavily on the tradition of classical history painting, employing large-scale narratives that invite viewers to explore deeper meanings beyond the surface.

Benedict has been the subject of numerous solo exhibitions, showcasing his evolving style and thematic explorations. Notable exhibitions include “Saints” at the Grey Art Gallery and Study Center at New York University, New York, NY (1993); “The Mage’s Pantry” at Von der Heydt-Kunsthalle, Wuppertal, Germany (2008); and “Based On The True Story” at Stene Projects, Stockholm, Sweden (2016).

In addition to his solo exhibitions, Benedict’s work has been featured in several group exhibitions. These include “Hanging by a Thread” at The Hudson River Museum, Yonkers, NY (1997); “Open House: Working in Brooklyn” at the Brooklyn Museum of Art, Brooklyn, NY (2004); and “Comunidad” at Galería Álvaro Álcazar, Madrid, Spain (2022).

Matthew Benedict’s work is characterized by its narrative depth and visual intensity. Often working from photographs, he crafts paintings that convey archetypal or mythological themes. His preferred medium is gouache on wood and paper, and his pieces are known for their bold, reduced color schemes that evoke the nostalgia of popular history or adventure book illustrations.

Benedict’s contributions to the world of art have been recognized and preserved in several prestigious collections. His works are part of the permanent collections at institutions such as the FRAC de Picardie in Amiens, the Dallas Museum of Art, the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the NASA Art Program in Washington, DC.

Matthew Benedict continues to make his mark on the contemporary art scene with his innovative and thought-provoking pieces. Through his work, he invites audiences to engage with art in a way that transcends the traditional boundaries, bridging the gap between historical narratives and modern interpretation.