CV | Statement

Francis Matthews

Born in 1980 in Dublin, Ireland, where he currently lives and works. Francis has been painting full time since 2005.

Education

1998-2004 University College Dublin. Graduated with a First Class Honours in Architecture.

Awards

2014 RUA perpetual Silver Medal Award.

2013 RUA KPMG Young Artist Award.

2011 Hennessy Craig Scholarship joint winner, RHA Annual Exhibition.

2009 James adams salesroom award, RHA Annual Exhibition. RHA studio residency.

2008 Cill Rialaig Residency.

2007 ESB Keating McLoughlin award, RHA Annual Exhibition. Hennessy Craig Scholarship Runner Up, RHA Annual Exhibition.

2006 John DeVere’s first time exhibitors award, RHA Annual Exhibition. Naughton award, RHA Annual Exhibition.

Solo shows

2018 Solo exhibition – Molesworth Gallery, Dublin.

2016 ‘Six Streets’ Molesworth Gallery, Dublin.

2009 ‘Ten’ Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin.

2008 ’46 South Richmond St’ Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland, Dublin.

2007 ‘Halation’ Cherrylane Fine Arts, Wicklow.

Selected Group shows

2019 ‘Penumbra’ two person show, Molesworth Gallery, Dublin. RA Summer Exhibition, London. RHA Summer Exhibition, Dublin. RUA Annual Exhibition, Belfast.

2018 EVA 18, Limerick. Additions to National Self Portrait Collection, UL, Limerick. RHA Summer Exhibition, Dublin.

2017 RHA Summer Exhibition, Dublin.

2016 RUA Annual Exhibition, Belfast. RHA Summer Exhibition, Dublin. CASe ’16 Lavit Gallery, Cork.

2015 RHA Summer Exhibition, Dublin. Darcspace Gallery group Exhibition, Dublin.

2014 RA Summer Exhibition, London. RHA Annual Exhibition, Dublin. RUA Annual Exhibition, Belfast. Describing Architecture 2014 ‘Memory and Place’, City Assembly House, Dublin.

2013 RHA Annual Exhibition, Dublin. RUA Annual Exhibition, Belfast. Describing Architecture 2013 ‘Work in Process’, City Assembly House, Dublin. Cherrylane Fine Arts Summer/Winter Exhibitions, Wicklow.

2012 RA Summer Exhibition, London. RHA Annual Exhibition, Dublin. Describing Architecture 2012 ‘Scale+Medium’, No. 13 North Great George’s St, Dublin. Cherrylane Fine Arts Summer/Winter Exhibitions, Wicklow.

2011 RHA Annual Exhibition, Dublin. Arte Laguna, Venice, Italy. Describing Architecture 2011, No 4. Capel st, Dublin. Cherrylane Fine Arts Summer/Winter Exhibitions, Wicklow.

2010 EV+A, Limerick. Lavit Gallery, Cork. RA Summer Exhibition, London. RHA Annual Exhibition, Dublin. Describing Architecture 2010, The Ormond Building, Dublin. Cherrylane Fine Arts Summer/Winter Exhibitions, Wicklow.

2009 RHA Annual Exhibition. Boyle Arts festival, Roscommon. Studio exhibition-69 Dame st studios, Dublin. Cherrylane Fine Arts Summer/Winter Exhibitions, Wicklow.

2008 RHA Annual Exhibition. Cherrylane Fine Arts Summer/Winter Exhibitions, Wicklow. Festival of Masters, Orlando, U.S.

2007 RHA Annual Exhibition, Dublin. RUA Annual Show, Belfast. RHA Banquet Exhibition, Dublin. Cherrylane Fine Arts Summer/Winter Exhibitions, Wicklow.

2006 RHA Annual Exhibition, Dublin. John DeVere’s IYF Charity Auction, London. RHA Banquet Exhibition, Dublin. Cherrylane Fine Arts Summer/Winter Exhibitions, Wicklow.

2005 Blue Leaf Gallery Show in aide of AWARE, Dublin. Oisin Gallery, Dublin.

Statement

I’m a visual artist working primarily with the traditions of painting. My practice is informed by light, architecture and the phenomenology of place.

The imagery I produce are almost always absent of people, describing places of neglect, or moments of silence in otherwise inhabited locations. These unoccupied places can be seen as empty sets, where a scene is about to unfold.

I seek out locations where the dynamics of light play a prominent role in the perception of the spaces and explore these sites through photography. Compositioning strongly defines the atmosphere within the images and the works can vary from both formal or casual arrangements depending on the intention and the construction of light within the image.

In turn I interpret these photographic images through the process of painting; the application of paint, being deliberate and slow, becomes an act of intense observation rather than overt expression.

The final images act as very particular documents of locations, directing the viewer’s attention to overlooked places and hopefully provoking a familiar but often uneasy sense of place.