“Observers have compared Godwin’s paintings to the work of a number of artists and movements — German Expressionism, Dubuffet, Basquiat, even the avant-garde cartoonist R. Crumb. Indeed, his figures often have a cartoonish quality, but there’s sophistication in the way he handles paint and color.”
– Gary Shwan / Palm Beach Post
Tell us about yourself and what you do?
My name is Matt Godwin. I was born and raised in South Florida. I’m a painter.
Who has inspired you in your life and why?
David Hockney’s paintings are a big inspiration to me. I’m really into Bernard Buffet’s stuff at the moment. I also like Tal R, Wesselman, Botero… there’s so many really great artists. As far as non-artists go, I find Sam Harris pretty inspiring. I also read Mark Strand, Anne Sexton, and Kobayashi Issa.
What is your greatest achievement so far?
Meeting my partner Jaime downtown was a great achievement. I quit smoking cigarettes. That was pretty tough. Being on the ABC morning show was really exciting.
Do you have any tips for our readers that are trying to break in the industry?
Get to know gallery owners before you introduce yourself as an artist. Check out their shows. See if their gallery is a good fit for your work before asking them about representation. Also, don’t gripe about commissions. If they’re making decent money on the sale, they will put a lot more effort into getting people interested in what you do.
