Matthew Tarini

Home: Ancaster, Ontario
Title: The White Shirt
Media: Oil on linen
Dimensions: 41 x 41 cm
Website: matthewtarini.com

ARTIST STATEMENT

For this portrait, I hope to capture the subject’s physical appearance, emotional depth, and inner world. The simple composition, stark attire and dark background are intended to focus the viewer’s attention primarily on the subject’s expressive and direct gaze.

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

Matthew Tarini is a realist painter living in Hamilton, Ontario, where he teaches drawing and painting in and around the greater Toronto area. Matthew began his art education at a traditional art academy before earning his Bachelor of Fine Art at York University and Master’s of Fine Art at the University of Western Ontario. Matthew works primarily in oil paint; his subject comprises cityscapes, landscapes and figurative work. Along with creating work in these genres, Matthew is actively pursuing a career as a portrait artist. He does private and public commissions, including the portrait of the Dean of Dentistry at the University of Toronto. He appeared on the television show Star Portraits, where his work was selected by the comedian Sean Cullen for his private collection. Matthew has had four solo exhibitions, and his work was part of numerous group exhibitions. His work is in collections across Canada and internationally. Public collections include York University, the University of Toronto, and the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives. In 2015 and 2019, Matthew received the Elisabeth Greenshields grant. He has been a finalist in The Kingston Prize and a finalist in the figurative and still life category at the salon competition at the Art Renewal Centre.