Matt W. Moore
69 // Matt W. Moore, based in Portland, Maine, USA, is a painter, aerosol artist and graphic designer. Matt studied for a BFA in Graphic Design and New Media at the Maine College of Art and also attended courses at Boston University; Savannah College of Art and Design, Georgia; and the Rhode Island School of Design, Providence. His background is in the art of graffiti and action board sports, which he says exercise the core values of ‘speed, a do-it-yourself ethic, enthusiasm for new terrain, and the sheer fun of collaboration’. Through his studio MWM Graphics, Matt works across many disciplines, including type design, packaging, canvases and murals. ‘Vectorfunk’ is the term Matt has given his ‘signature style’, describing it as a digital playground of geometry, pattern and vibrant colour. His clients have included Ray-Ban, Diesel, Nike and Citroën. Matt also has his own clothing line, Glyph Cue, and a homewares line, Core Deco.
Core Deco Ceramic Tiles
Matt designed these screenprinted black-and-white tiles to be arranged in any number of directions to create a variety of different patterns. They are also sold in sets of four for use as trivets and coasters.
Sun Ray Ricochet
This work was painted during Matt’s 2011 residency in Moscow and inspired by his experiences there – the juxtaposition of old and new, asymmetrical architecture, shadow play, reflections, optical illusions, vibrant colours and the everpresent buzz of the city.
Round Trip
From a series of artworks created using spray paint on circular canvases. Exhibited in 2011 at Flatcolor Gallery in Seattle, Washington.
Diagonal Thinking
Matt painted this geometry mural in Cincinnati, Ohio, as part of his ‘XYZ Axis’ exhibition. Matt likes to choose the colour palettes for his murals to fit in just right with a neighbourhood’s native flavours, and he will observe the building beforehand to check for shadows.
13 XYZ Axis
Matt arrived at his ‘XYZ Axis’ show with no paintings to hang and instead set to work creating his canvases in situ at the venue. His aim with this design was to achieve the same depth of abstract geometry as in his digital vector works.
25 XYZ Axis
A design from Matt’s residency, exhibition and mural at the YES Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio, in April/May 2011, where all of the pieces were created with a spray can. ‘The goal with each work,’ he says, ‘is to have the viewer’s eye fall into the piece and get lost in the optical illusions, trying to figure out what is up, down, left, and right.’