I hope that the themes of grit, redemption and faith shine through in my work.
Meet Matt
I grew up in California's Central Valley, surrounded by cotton fields, cattle, ranches, and the hardworking people who made their living from the land. My father spent many years as a rural church pastor, and some of my earliest memories are of small-town churches, country roads, and the stories of ordinary people trying to build meaningful lives.
Like many boys raised in the West, I was rarely far from a cowboy hat and a toy six-shooter. I grew up captivated by Western movies and larger-than-life characters. Clint Eastwood, John Wayne, cattle drives, frontier towns, lawmen, outlaws, and stories of courage and perseverance filled my imagination. Long before I ever considered becoming a professional artist, I was already drawn to the values and mythology of the American West.
Storytelling became a lifelong pursuit.
I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from California Baptist University, but my creative path rarely followed a straight line. I spent time in Colorado working for a film production company before eventually finding my way to Hollywood, where I worked as a production assistant and screenwriter. Later, I lived in Hawaii and taught high school English, helping students discover the power of stories through literature and writing.
Music became another chapter of that journey. As a professional singer, musician, and worship leader, I spent years telling stories through songs, narratives, and live performances. That eventually led to more than two decades serving as a Worship and Creative Arts Pastor, where storytelling, creativity, faith, and community became deeply intertwined.
Through every season of life—whether in film, education, ministry, or music—one thing remained constant: I continued to paint.
Today, my work draws from all of those experiences. The American West serves as both subject and symbol. Cowboys, riders, landscapes, and open country are not simply images to me; they represent grit, faith, redemption, freedom, sacrifice, and the enduring human spirit.
My paintings are rooted in the belief that stories matter. They shape who we are, remind us where we've come from, and point us toward who we hope to become. Through bold color, movement, and narrative-driven imagery, I strive to create artwork that honors those stories and invites viewers to reconnect with the values that often get lost in the noise of modern life.
In many ways, I've spent my entire life telling stories. Today, I simply tell them with paint.
I currently live in the “stinky cow” (what my kids called it) part of California with my wife, Jen, and our wonderfully busy blended family, where storytelling, creativity, and a healthy appreciation for adventure remain part of everyday life.
Artist Statement
My work exists in the space where story and identity meet. Through contemporary Western imagery, I explore themes of grit, redemption, faith, freedom, and adventure—the values that have shaped generations before us and continue to resonate today. Cowboys, riders, landscapes, and quiet moments of reflection become symbols of something larger: the human desire for purpose, belonging, and a life well lived.
Through painting, I invite viewers to slow down and reconnect with the things that often get lost in the noise of modern life. My work is rooted in the belief that stories matter, and that the lessons found in perseverance, sacrifice, courage, and hope are as relevant today as they have ever been.
While inspired by the American West, my paintings are ultimately less about a place and more about the universal experiences that connect us all.
I hope my work evokes a sense of recognition—a reminder of values we admire, memories we cherish, and aspirations we still carry. Whether through a lone rider on the horizon or a moment of quiet contemplation, I aim to create paintings that encourage reflection and invite viewers to find their own story within the image.
Through my art, I aspire to be a storyteller. Not simply of the West, but of the enduring human spirit. I want to create more than images for a wall; I want to create meaningful experiences that inspire, encourage, and remind people of what matters most.