Matthew Collins

Matthew Collins is primarily a painter who has divided his time between landscape painting and conceptual explorations in painting. Collins’ paintings are loosely painted with an emphasis on colour and mark making. The majority of these paintings have been of coastal scenes along the South Shore of Nova Scotia. Making a good painting has been his main focus rather than a realistic representation of the subject. Paint application takes centre stage over minute details.

Matthew has shown his work in numerous solo and group shows along the South Shore, Halifax and Montreal. Most recently, his work was selected for inclusion in the travelling exhibition “Terroir” organized by the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. He received a Creation Grant from Arts Nova Scotia (2013) and has had his work purchased by the Nova Scotia Art Bank (2013, 2015). His work is represented by public, corporate and private collections in Canada, Germany, Holland and the United States.

Matthew was born in Liverpool, Nova Scotia and continues to live in the area. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (1998), where his main focus was painting and art history.

Artist Statement

I have always had great appreciation for my natural surroundings. However, when I paint it is more about paint itself. A blank canvas is exciting to me. It is full of possibilities. The landscape is rich and organic. I can only hope my paintings are as rich as the pungent smell of a pine or as vibrant as the shallow turquoise water along the Atlantic coast. I am also influenced by an appreciation of art history. I love paint. I love colour. I love texture. All of this is thrown on the canvas at once. Sometimes more structured, sometimes less.

- Matthew Collins, 2021

Matthew Collins, CV

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