Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Ttam.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve worked in the industry as a professional photographer for 20 years now. I’ve been lucky enough to travel the world, photograph some of the most beautiful faces and locations imaginable. Now, before you think this is a big ol’ brag-fest, let me give you the reality. It’s tough; long hours, sometimes days on and off set, demanding clients, and after some time, it all starts to blur together. Somewhere in 2018, I felt burnt out. It was the busiest, most profitable year of my life, yet I’d lie awake at night, thinking of new ways to stimulate my mind. One night, this concept of motion entered my brain. It was about blurring out all the details in order to reveal the structure, balance, and mood. Essentially, stripping things down in order to “see” them. The idea stayed with me. Night after night, for weeks, all I could see when I’d close my eyes were these visions of what I could create. Finally, I couldn’t take it any longer. The following morning, I bought a ticket to Mexico and left.
For the next seven days, I took my photography knowledge, some calculations, and my camera to a spot I thought would be perfect for my vision. I woke up early to catch the sunrise each day, took a long, dark road to the area, and practiced. Seven days, over 900 photographs, and when I returned home, about seven of the photos were in the range of what I was looking for. I continued these “techniques,” if you will, for the last few years while traveling to France, South Korea, Thailand, Mexico, Japan, Spain, and various spots in the US. It became an obsession. When I would finish with clients’ photoshoots, I’d immediately start thinking of places I had seen nearby or researched in the area that would fit my art. Fast forward to 2020 (I know, it’s like a curse word). When the world came to a halt, MATT TTAM came to life. I had just returned from Tokyo and Seoul amid a growing Covid-crisis and a month later, I decided to test the water with my art. I released a piece I named “Glimmer of Hope.” I did 100 prints for $100 each. If anything, I thought I could pad my bank account for the possibility of a rough road ahead. Little did I know, it would be a pivot that would change everything. The prints sold out in 10 days. It was surreal. I still get giddy thinking about it.
A week later, I received an email. It was a gallery in Paris, France. They had received one of the prints in their shop from a buyer looking to have it framed. They asked me how long I had been painting. “It’s not a painting,” I replied. “It’s a photograph.” The return email was filled with questions. What techniques were used, how long I had been doing these, were there more? Once I answered, they disappeared for a day. The next day was a storybook. They asked if I’d like to sell them through the gallery. Once we negotiated the terms, I sent them four different pieces, hoping to find out if there was a place for MATT TTAM in a Parisian art gallery. Three days later, I had my answer. I received an email with two words in the title… SOLD OUT. There is no feeling I have experienced in my career that has been so incredibly satisfying. It was the beginning of a journey that I am still continually humbled by. I am still less than a year into selling art, and the beauty in the people I have met, both other artists and clientele, could power me for years to come.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It always appears on the outside to be smooth sailing. Like the old saying, “Be like a duck.”… appear calm on the surface even though you’re paddling like crazy underneath the surface. The art industry is still very new to me. Galleries, curators, interior designers, etc. everyone has a different vision of where you “should” go, but it’s important to trust your vision, and above all, stay true to yourself.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in contemporary, abstract photographs. They often appear to be paintings to the uninitiated. Then again, that’s the fun in it. The question I most often hear is, “what is it?” Sometimes, it’s blatantly obvious, and other times, well, blatantly obvious is sometimes something TOTALLY different because I purposely intended it. The best pieces are ones that change each time you view them. If you really spend time with an art piece, you start to notice little details. Each one can trigger an entirely different direction of thought. That is where the magic lies… in those little details. To make it clear, each piece has “clues”. These clues are the adventure of my art. They can lead you on a journey, or just keep you planned curiously on your couch.
Any big plans?
The new year is fresh with ripe opportunities. The goal is to scale up the business side a bit more, possibly include limited merchandise, and ultimately push into the hands of more aficionados. I have only shown a few steps in my process. At this point, I’m on step ten or so. The main goal is to slowly bring people up to pace, including building up @iammattttam on social media, so they can see where this is capable of going. It’s a blast!
Contact Info:
- Email: info@mattttam.com
- Website: http://mattttam.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/iammattttam
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/iammattttam
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/iammattttam
Image Credits
@iammattttam
