ABOUT

       
ContactPhoto
           
        Matthew Tarini is a realist painter currently living in Ancaster, Ontario. Initially he trained in the traditional academic method of drawing and painting and found it to be invaluable as a foundation for creating realist works. Working mostly in oil paint the bulk of his work is of urban scenes, landscapes, florals and figurative work. He is particularly interested in our society’s increasing lack of connection to nature and in the erosion of community and beauty in the modern world. These are issues that inspire him to create paintings that transcribe our contemporary society onto canvas in the most honest way that he can. 
      

(b. 1987)

Education                                                                                                    

2015    Masters of Fine Arts, Visual Arts, University of Western Ontario

2013    Bachelors of Fine Arts, Visual Arts, Cum Laude, York University

Solo Exhibitions

2018    The Still Point, Scott Gallery, Edmonton, Alberta

2015    Liminal Space, Masters Thesis Exhibition, McIntosh Gallery, London    Ontario

2011    Quiet, Gallery at 129 Ossington, Toronto, Ontario

2009    In Transit, Gallery at 129 Ossington, Toronto, Ontario

Selected Group Exhibitions

2019    Painting 2019, John B Aird, Toronto, Ontario

2019    Discorpia, Enterprise Square Galleries, Edmonton, Alberta

2018    Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Toronto, Ontario

2017    Plus Art Fair, The Cotton Factory, Hamilton, Ontario

2017    The Human Face, Scott Gallery, Edmonton Alberta

2017    Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Toronto, Ontario

2016   Get Noticed, Redhead Gallery, Toronto, Ontario

2016   Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Toronto, Ontario

2015   Small Works; New Paintings and Drawings by Matthew Tarini and Leslie Watts, Village Studios, Stratford, Ontario

2015    Open House, Graduate Students Open Studio Event, University of Western Ontario

2014   Wish List: Members’ Show and Sale, Forest City Gallery, London, Ontario

2014    Best-of 2014 Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, First Canadian Place Gallery, Toronto, Ontario

2014    Sum of Two and Three, One more than Four, Art Lab, Department of Visual Arts, Western University

2014    Fresh Paint, New Construction, Art Mûr, Montreal, QC

2014    Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Toronto, Ontario

2014    Painting, Three-Person Show with Mike Pszczonak and Jared Peters. Michael Gibson Gallery, London, Ontario

2014    Open House, Graduate Students Open Studio Event, University of Western Ontario

2013    Portrait in Context with Andrew Testa, Alex Dabic and Stas Guzar, Project Gallery, Toronto, Ontario

2012    Street Life: City as Muse, Museum of Contemporary Art, Calgary, Canada

2012    Four Portrait Artists, Eleanor Winters Gallery, York University

2012    A Study of Landscape with Angela Snieder, Gales Gallery, York University

2011    Synthesis, Pia Bouman School For Ballet and Creative Movement, Fundraiser for Queen West Art Crawl,  Toronto, Ontario

2010    Conference Call, Telephone Booth Gallery, Toronto, Ontario

2010    Star Portraits Wrap Party and Exhibition, Edward Day Gallery, Toronto, Ontario

2010    The Artist Project, Toronto, Ontario

2010    Synthesis, The Gladstone Hotel, Fundraiser for Queen West Art Crawl, Toronto, Ontario

2009    The Artist Project, Toronto, Ontario

2008    The Inspired Line, Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts, Hamilton, Ontario

2007    Junction Arts Festival, Toronto, Ontario

Awards

2019    Elizabeth Greenshields Grant

2019     Art Renewal Centre Finalist, Figurative Category (two paintings)

2019    Art Renewal Centre Finalist, Portrait Category (two paintings)

2019    Art Renewal Centre Finalist, Still Life Category

2017    Art Renewal Centre, Finalist, Landscape Category

2016    Toronto Outdoor Art Fair, Honourable Mention in Painting

2015    Kingston Prize, Finalist

2015    Art Renewal Centre Salon, Finalist, Figurative Category

2015    Jose Barrio-Garay Bursary

2015    Elizabeth Greenshields Grant

2014    The Curtlands Foundation Prize

2014    Honourable Mention Student Award, Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition

2013    Western Graduate Research Scholarship, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario

2013    Chairs Entrance Scholarship, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario

2013    Top Realist Painter Award, York University, Toronto Ontario

2012    The Ken Carpenter Award, York University, Toronto, Ontario

2009    Entrance Scholarship, York University, Toronto, Ontario

2009    Honourable Mention, Peoples Choice Award – The Artist Project, Chocolate Competition

Teaching Experience

2019- Present    Instructor of various courses at the Avenue Road Arts School, Dundas Valley School of Art and the Toronto School of Art

2015-2019   Sessional Instructor, Fundamentals, Drawing and Painting, University of Alberta

2016    Workshop with Julian Forrest’s Drawing Class at Augustana Campus, University of Alberta

2016    Workshop with Keith Harder’s Painting Class at Augustana Campus, University of Alberta

2014    Teaching Assistant, Full Year Art Fundamentals, University of Western Ontario

2013    Portrait Painting Workshop, Brush and Palette Club, London Ontario

2013    Teaching Assistant, Third Year Studio Seminar Class, University of Western Ontario

2009 – Present – Individual private lessons

TV Appearances

2010    Star Portraits – portrait of Sean Cullen, Season 2, Episode 11 (aired November 27th), Bravo Television, Toronto, Canada

Commissions and Competitions

2013    Portrait Painting Competition, Grand Central Academy Art, New York City, USA

2012    Portrait Commission of the Dean of Dentistry at the University of Toronto

2008 to Present – Various private commissions in portraiture, landscape and still life

Publications

2014        Fresh Paint/New Constructions Catalogue, Art Mur

2014       Sum of Two and Three, One more than Four, Exhibition Catalogue

2013-14   Canadian Art Magazine, Winter 2014, Special Issue on Painting – 5th Annual Art Schools Smart Guide