We recently connected with Matthew Taylor-Winch and have shared our conversation below.

Matthew, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?

Time is fleeting. Ideas have an expiration date, so don’t wait to act on them. I’ve spent years in jobs, waiting to be noticed, thinking I deserved recognition. The truth is, recognition often doesn’t come without persistence. If you make something, keep making more. Looking back, I see that my drive to make things pushed me through the times when no one was asking to see my work. Money wasn’t the answer—though more is always nice. But the time you have to create your art is irreplaceable. Once it’s gone, you can’t get it back. Don’t wait to do it.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m an Artist, Photographer, Bookmaker, and Book Dealer. Originally from Sydney, Australia, I’ve called Los Angeles my home for nearly seven years. I have the privilege of working for Leica, where I oversee the store and gallery in West Hollywood. In the past year, I embarked on a new venture, a rare art and photography bookstore called Auto Books, which operates out of the trunk of my ’84 380SL Mercedes Benz.

Auto Books was born from decades of book collecting with the idea of creating a bookstore aimed at connecting people with rare and unique books that i thought were interesting as opposed to the most valuable. During my travels around the world, I’ve met amazing booksellers who introduced me to books, publishers, and artists I might never have known if I had just purchased books online. Inspired by these experiences, I wanted to bring that sense of discovery through Auto Books.This venture has evolved beyond a mobile bookstore. I’ve been able to collaborate with galleries and curate personal libraries for clients, a process that is both creatively satisfying and personally rewarding.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Community. For the longest time, I believed I had to create art in isolation. I hesitated to share my work, fearing I might give too much away or that it wouldn’t be well received. But the truth is, no one creates the same art you do. Once you realize this, it becomes incredibly freeing to share your work—and through that, you find your people.

L.A. has been that space for me. It’s where I’ve met and collaborated with so many inspiring individuals who motivate me to keep creating and sharing my art. Auto Books has become an extension of my practice, opening doors to new connections and opportunities. This wouldn’t have happened without putting something out there and and taking a chance.

I’m excited to share that we’ll be installing the Auto Books car at the Printed Matter Art Book Fair in L.A. this year. I’m grateful for this rare opportunity to continue sharing my work and connecting with an incredible community.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Go to art galleries and attend exhibition openings. Buy work, invest in artists and live with art in your home. Actively engage with the community on all levels from artists run spaces through to museums. Art lives in the real world not online. We need more people supporting emerging artists so the next wave of creatives also get a chance, we get so fixed on the past because it’s easy to like work by beloved artists, it’s safe. Take a chance and buy what you like. Trust your creative instinct. That support can change an artists life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://aut0books.com
• Instagram: @aut0books @thesonofbob

Image Credits

All images © Matthew Taylor-Winch