Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Matt Halm. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Matt , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
As a child, my parents gave me a loving home and encouraged me in everything, including my growing curiosity for art. My grandfather supplied my first drawing paper, where my imagination bloomed on the backs of old Mack Truck invoices. My grandmother, a painter and student of Pennsylvania painter Walter Baum, was a beacon guiding me to be an artist. The more I drew, my hand became more deft, my interest more focused. I soaked up every art class and scribbled on every piece of paper I could find, with no idea that I would never stop.
When the Allentown Academy of the Arts began at Allen High School, I knew my direction. It was in these rooms, after hours of drawing apples or toast, that I saw the future. I saw the importance of art and artists and realized someone might actually pay me to create. Amazing. So from then on, all I wanted to be was a professional artist. I walked onto the Syracuse University quad in fall of 1998, wishing to change the world with my creativity. The people I knew and things I learned built my mentality, formed the way I thought about the earth, society, and art. I found power in my paint strokes and a voice in eight a.m. critiques. I had direction, I wanted to be an artist.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Following college, my head was filled ambitious dreams of artistic glory. The autumn of 2004 brought an opportunity, a group of progressive minds sought to beautify Allentown neighborhoods with mural art. On three unique projects, I apprenticed under three talented, seasoned muralists and learned how true professionals create a mural. I had a small taste of artistic and professional success, and there was no turning back. For the years following, I threw myself into learning about and creating public art. My experience has grown with countless obstacles and triumphant ventures . I have become a true professional muralist; adaptable, creative, and conscientious.
With the opportunity to share my knowledge and passion for murals, teaching has become a new ardor. Working with students is challenging and infinitely rewarding, as I seek to embolden them with creativity, imagination, and collaboration. Inspiration abounds, and the transformative nature of art continues to drive me.
I am a painter, muralist, and teacher. Stirring an original, graphic style with conceptual questions and social commentary. My work is thoughtful and
concentrates on the relationship between the image and the environment, as well as the viewer and the theme. My unique style seeks to meld symbolism and storytelling, creating original compositions with provocative thematic propositions. By mashing influences with ideals, I seek to derive and synthesize, realizing complex themes through beautiful simplicity.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
As a muralist, it is incredibly rewarding to engage communities through art. Public art can offer an outlet for diverse, creative expression, and encourage personal connections and relationships. Public art has the unique ability to transcend social, cultural, and political boundaries, and I’m grateful to be a part of these types of projects. I have been fortunate to collaborate with people of all ages and backgrounds, and each time I do, I’m amazed at the power of imagination and expression.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
My hope would be that creative fields and artistic endeavors are not seen as flights of fancy, but a necessary part of society and culture. Our world would be unlivable without the arts. Fostering art education, creativity and imagination is paramount to building communities. Young people should be encouraged to pursue creative fields, as there are infinite opportunities for creative minds to make a living and make a difference.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://matthalm.com
- Instagram: @matthalmmurals
- Facebook: @matthalmmurals
