Matt Coyle

Born 1971, Hobart
Lives and works in Hobart

Artist's CV

Matt Coyle stands as a masterful conjurer of the uncanny. His command of pen and ink transcends the ordinary, leading viewers into a realm where the familiar meets the disconcerting. 

Coyle's artistic arsenal consists of pen, ink, gauche, air brush paints and coloured pencils—yet his noir-esque creations possess a disquieting likeness that blends into unsettling dreamscapes. The otherworldly texture of his works, rendered through the interplay of flat planes of colour and three-dimensional forms, blurs the lines between reality and illusion. Flecks of recognisable forms dissolve just as quickly as they appear. He plays with the surreal, leaving us entranced and unsure if what we see is truly there.

In the hands of Coyle, the mundane becomes mysterious. The result is an undeniably uncanny experience that perpetually eludes our comprehension. He intricately weaves the picture plane into a mesmerising tapestry, where elements fold in on themselves. The fusion of spray paint and mark-making adds layers of complexity, resulting in a kind of disturbing beauty that is both brooding and unbound.

Coyle's journey as an artist is further underscored by his publications, including the acclaimed graphic novels "Worry Doll" and "Registry of Death." These narratives transcend conventional storytelling. Coyle's approach to the comic medium lies not in text, but in the sequencing of carefully composed imagery. It is an orchestrated unveiling of nightmares, testament to his unparalleled skill as a storyteller.

Coyle's work graces the collections of prestigious institutions, including the NGV, GOMA/Queensland Art Gallery, and Maitland Regional Art Gallery. His artistic contributions include commissions for publications such as Art and Australia (ARTAND). He has exhibited in major cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, and Hobart, with international participation in Hong Kong Art Fair, Art Athina, and the Korean International Art Fair (KIAF).

Coyle navigates the thin line between reality and illusion, light and dark. He is a versatile figure in contemporary Australian art, a true master of the uncanny.

 

\ Artworks

M.S #4

2022 \ Acrylic & enamel on board \ 49 x 55cm

Resurrection

2024 \ Acrylic and enamel on canvas \ 70 x 62cm

Skyline with easel

2023 \ Acrylic and enamel on canvas \ 120 x 140cm

The Plant

2024 \ Acrylic & enamel on canvas \ 100 x 94cm

The Site

2024 \ Acrylic and enamel on canvas \ 120 x 180cm

\ News

Insight

Art critic Sebastian Smee on the art of Matt Coyle

21 May 2024

Matt Coyle has long been one of Australia’s most original and captivating artists. The work he has been making over the past five-to-ten years convinces me that he is in the midst of a major breakthrough. 

Read more

\ Exhibitions featuring Matt Coyle

Matt Coyle

PAINTINGS

23 May — 8 June 2024

Landscape and Memory

Group Exhibition

2 September — 23 September 2023

Contact Us

to find out more about Matt Coyle.

12 - 14 Meagher Street Chippendale, NSW 2008
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday, 9.00am - 5.30pm Saturday, 11am - 4pm Closed Public Holidays (and Easter Saturday)