Artist Bio

Oklahoma artist Matt Goad began his art career while working as a graphic designer and illustrator in the mid-1990s. Woodblock printing and its hard-edged graphic aesthetic helped inform his modern style which he would take into the realm of painting in the 2000s. Passionate about color, composition, and telling a story, his geometric approach pulls viewers through a compositional narrative. His work is easily accessible to the public and enjoyed by many, young, old, and across cultural identities.

Matt was selected from more than 35 national and international hopefuls to create original designs that were incorporated into 44,000 square feet of terrazzo flooring and 4,000 square feet of etched glass at Oklahoma City’s Will Rogers World Airport. His design, “OKConnected,” can be seen on the floor of the airport lobby and in the main atrium and concourse.

Piece Description

“I approached this much as I do most of my commissions,” Matt says. “I learn as much about the subject as I can in an initial meeting and then I don’t think about it. Once I left the meeting, I purposely didn’t think about it for about three weeks. One day suddenly I was inspired by a design idea. Allowing my subconscious to work out an idea is how I find inspiration. Once I have that my conscious mind gets to work and can’t stop.”

He describes most of his work as geometric, compositionally driven, and typically based on a story or concept.

“I always say that I build paintings rather than ‘paint’ them. This is because my approach is very much like a house painter. I use stencils and tape. This technique came about by my wanting to create work that was bold and graphic, with pops of flat, contrasting colors that play off one another.”