Ultra contemporary painter Matthew Ricci (b. 1998, South Australia) emerges from a background of mathematical science. However, concerned with the absurdity of existence and the human condition, chooses to explore abstract figurative painting. Matthew’s personal and visual identity has been shaped by a life of active resistance. A tumultuous early life forced deep isolation and introspection, resulting in extremely personal relationships with his “autonomous emotions”. It is these relationships Matthew captures on the canvas through automatic drawing and expressionist painting techniques.

In his work, Matthew is committed to highlighting the irrational yet universal experiences that are emotions. As a subscriber to Carl Jung’s theory of the collective unconscious, Matthew believes that through ‘finding the figure’ out of the chaos of his expressionistic mark making, although he is in fact revealing collective truths about the human condition in symbolic form. Reluctant to bias the viewer’s own relationship with the painting Matthew does not explain the meaning of his compositions, however, the themes of sexuality, morality and love are present in all his paintings. Although hailing from Adelaide, South Australia, Ricci chooses to live and work in Berlin, Germany. Ricci is currently not represented but appears in private collections globally, and participates in international art fairs and exhibitions.

Education:

Bachelor of Economics (Advanced), Adelaide University (2021)
Bachelor of Mathematical Sciences, Adelaide University (2021)

Group Exhibitions:

Maremoto by Peninsula group, Berlin (2025)
Waverley Art Prize, Sydney (2025)
London Biennale, Chelsea Town Hall, (2025)
BAAM (Curated), Berlin art fair, (2024).

Solo Exhibitions:

CURATED Presents Matthew Ricci, An Afternoon of Live Drawing, (2023).
Matthew Ricci at Unkompress, Berlin Vernissage, (2024).

Prizes & Awards:

Recipient of the Chianciano Art Museum Award at the London Biennale (2025)
Finalist Waverley Art Prize, Sydney (2025)
Finalist Jackson Art Prize (2025)