Matthew Curran

Posted on Monday, 15 March 2010 by Ben

I sat here for about half an hour trying to find something smart and whitty to say, and to find the right art jargon that may just have me sounding like some sort of pompus art gallery whoring asshole – But nothing came to me so, this week i present you with one of the most mind blowing stencil artists that i have ever come across, Matthew Curran.

Firstly, thank you for your time, what’s up?

Thank you! Just staying busy, working on sketches for some upcoming shows this year. Trying to plan out what I’m going to be working on during the rest of the year, and just enjoying life!

For those who are unfamiliar with you and what you do, can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Born and raised in Northamptonshire, moved to the US in 91 with my family to Boston. I studied art and graphic design at UNC Greensboro. Now I live in Raleigh, NC and work in a studio downtown cutting stencils all day. I love it!

How does a typical day in your world unfold?

Get up, check my emails, go to the studio and cut ,sketch and spray stencils. Eat & sleep. Try to give myself a little time to relax and enjoy the day.

How did you initially get into graffiti or stenciling, and how did that lead to where you are now, with your work in galleries all over the world?

I was involved in some form of art, but when I started skateboarding, I was exposed to new styles of art – Mainly graffiti. I was involved heavily in graffiti until I came across stencils. They were faster to get up on the streets, I could sit at home and cut stencils all day. When I was ready… I could run downtown and wheat paste a couple of stenciled posters or stencil directly onto anything in no time at all. I had realized that this is what I loved to do! I was encouraged to show my work in some local galleries and I would get a good response, from there it became one show leading to the next.

What affect has being born and growing up in England then later moving to the United States had on your artistic style?

In England I had always lived around the country side, the style of art that I was exposed to was landscapes, the occasional comic book I was lucky enough to get, and cartoons. Once I moved to Boston it was completely different. I had never lived in a big city before. I was quickly exposed to artists selling paintings on the streets and seeing graffiti everywhere, kids had graffiti painted all over their clothes. So, it was mainly the transition to a large city, all of the new styles of artwork an urban setting I was exposed to that has really shaped my work into what I do now.

Faces seem very predominant in your work, what influences your subject matter?

I like to capture intense expressions and lots of energy. The human face works really well. There are many ways you can interpret an expression on a persons face and when I start adding drips and sketchy lines I get some really interesting feedback. The face is a great subject to use for my stencils and is interesting to watch people’s expressions when they are viewing my work for the first time.

What inspires you to go out and paint?

All the creative people around me.

What’s in your pockets right now?

Nothing. I have holes in my pockets.

Graffiti and crazy situations go hand in hand, you must have a few stories to tell, what are some of the more “notable” situations you’ve been in?

There has been plenty of running from the cops and some strange situations down the railroad tracks. One time that stands out is when I had just finished painting and out of nowhere a cop had grabbed me, he told me I was pretty much busted. Then for some reason a guy runs right past us, I said it was not me it was the guy running. So, the cop ran after him and I bolted in the other direction…. That was a close one!

Do you think that graffiti will go down the same path as tattooing, from a frowned upon (at least in the last 100 years) underground scene to a mainstream movement?

Yes. You can see this already happening in a lot of the big art fairs, galleries, and in schools and universities. I was recently asked to participate in a street art and graffiti class for an elementary school.

Do you prefer to paint legal or illegal spaces?

Illegal when I can get away with it.

What’s been pumping through your head phones lately?

Bo Diddley

You’ve had your work featured in galleries around the globe, do you think that Graffiti is becoming more accepted by mainstream society, or do you think that aerosol art is being recognized as a art form away from Graffiti?

Both. There are a lot of talented graffiti artists out there, and it seems as though more people are becoming aware of graffiti and enjoying it. A lot of it is being recognized as an art form, mainly because of the support from galleries, schools, etc. I think it’s a good thing.

5 things you take with you on your travels?

Stencils, stickers, posters, wheat paste, and spray paint.

To the general public and authorities, there is a very fine line between what is considered art and what is considered vandalism and/or crime, i know of one case where a writer got a longer jail sentence than a rapist on the same day of sentencing, what are you thoughts on that?

Crazy!! I don’t think anyone should get a jail sentence longer than a crime like that.

Advice to up and coming artists?

Keep doing what you love to do.

Anything coming up that we should know about?

Believe the hype in Miami April 10^thwith an amazing lineup of artists, and some projects coming up this summer in Spain and Indonesia …With details soon.