Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Clark.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Matt. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I always loved working with my hands, creating, making images. At thirteen, I woke one morning and knew I wanted to be an artist. I was fortunate enough to have a great support network, great teachers and mentors that supported and encouraged my passion to become an artist. Although I entered undergrad as a business major, making art was something that was always bubbling at the surface. After two years in business school, I listened to my instincts and switched majors. I received a BA in art history followed by a masters in painting. In art school there were no classes that taught or informed me on how to launch a career as an artist. I had a great skill set in creating and making beautiful abstract paintings but no idea how to leverage my skills and passions to generate revenue. So, I found artists how had seen success and learned from them. I also tried things out, I experimented, tested, prototyped, networked and learned how to uncover and seize opportunities. Today I am included in over 20 international corporate collections, exhibit throughout the United States, and share those insights and experiences with my students at UTA through Entrepreneurship in the Arts, an initiative I launched in 2012 in the Art + Art History department.
Has it been a smooth road?
I say being a successful, exhibiting artist is like being a professional athlete. There are many who romanticize about doing it but few are able to thrive and survive in the business. I have experienced many challenges throughout the las 20+ years. Struggles include lots of dead ends, rejections, and stiff competition. There are a limited number of patrons, collectors, galleries and institutions that support people in the creative arena. The biggest challenge is to find and capture your target audience. It requires perseverance, patience and practice.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Matt Clark Studio – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I am a practicing artist and professor. I create abstract paintings that speak about place; both physical and psychological. I am known for creating beautiful, sublime paintings that evoke a sense of transcendence, tranquility, and introspection. I also am known for my collaborations with others artists synthesizing our crafts, unique methods and diverse skill sets. Academically, I started one of the first fine arts entrepreneurship programs that help students recognize opportunities, leverage their skill sets, and launch their creative careers through entrepreneurial strategies and mindsets. It’s awesome to affect people in positive ways through my paintings and my interactions with my students. My uniqueness comes from my dedication, approach, and passion to and of my craft as well us my desire to help young creative reach their potential
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love the city’s commitment to the arts, the growing creative community, the ease of living in Dallas, biking along the Trinity and at White Rock Lake, Yutaka, the Joule, Conduit Gallery, Flower Child, and Hillstone I wish Dallas had more opportunities to be in nature, more healthy restaurants, more public art, more outdoor restaurants, more diversity, less conservative, hipper shop and more opportunities for artists to collaborate with industry.
Contact Info:
- Website: mattclarkstudio.com
- Email: matt@mattclarkstudio.com
- Instagram: mattwclark
Image Credit:
Kevin Todora
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
