Matt Palmer paints from a nostalgic distance. Palmer describes his relationship with the landscape as one of being constantly drawn back to its dream-like qualities and emotional resonance. It is this subconscious, silent conversation that I find myself always drawn back into. In a meditative mode of working, Palmer searches for imagery that simultaneously reminds him of his childhood and the history of the painting genre, setting out to identify that place in his imagination that falls somewhere between desire and reality, a construction of intimate experiences and highly personalised landscapes.
Palmer’s father is the well-known New Zealand landscape painter, Stanley Palmer and was a large influence on the artist growing up. Matt was brought up experiencing the landscape from multiple angles, exploring it’s far reaches, as he went on his father’s frequent painting excursions.
Palmer’s creative upbringing lead him to Elam School of Art where he was taught and further inspired by Denys Watkins; following which he moved to Sydney in the mid-nineties to explore a career as film director, working extensively on short films and music videos for which he has won a range of awards in Australia and overseas.
Throughout this period, Palmer has been experimenting with the landscape genre attempting to bridge the gap between his painting, printmaking and film projects; developing a specific technique (and aesthetic) which lies somewhere between photography, painting and film.
His distinctive work is painterly and at the same time cinematic, often brooding and always loaded with potential and untold narrative. Palmer had his first show of landscape paintings in 2012 and has subsequently had a number of sell out exhibitions. His paintings have been reviewed favourably by herald critic TJ McNamara and feature in a variety of private and corporate collections across Australasia, Europe and the USA.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2021 “Kids life crisis” Inkiiindependent, Sydney
2020 “Inland from here” Foenander Galleries, Auckland
2019 “Short stories” Allison Kate Bellinger Gallery, Inverell
2019 “Spring” Melenium Gallery, Blenheim
2019 “Someplace, somewhere, sometime” Foenander Galleries, Auckland
2019 “Ways home” Solander Gallery, Wellington
2018 “From a distance” Foenander Galleries, Auckland
2018 “Making landfall” Solander Gallery, Wellington
2017 “The longing” NKB Gallery, Auckland
2016 “Little Birds” Published Art, Sydney
2017 “Making landfall” Solander Gallery, Wellington
2016 “South of here” Hastings City Galler, Hastings
2014 “Pieces of my past” NKB Gallery, Auckland
2013 “Memory and Myth” NKB Gallery, Auckland
2013 “Suburban Songs” ARTHERE, Sydney
2012 “Fabrications” NKB Gallery, Auckland
2012 “Joyous Child” ARTHERE, Sydney
2012 “New Zealand to New York” Agora Gallery, New York
2011 “In between the silence” Flagstaff Gallery, Auckland
2010 “In print” NKB Gallery, Auckland
2010 “Spring catalogue” Milford Galleries, Queenstown
2010 “New to gallery” Flagstaff gallery, Auckland
2010 “Storyboard project” The Studio Gallery, Sydney
2009 “Meandering” Lane Gallery, Auckland
2008 “BMW” Auckland Art awards emerging artists selection
2008 “Misplaced” Lane Galler, Auckland
2007 “Slipping in time” China Heights Gallery, Sydney
2007 “Large works” Group show Lane Gallery, Auckland
2007 “Places I think I’ve been” The Studio Gallery, Sydney
2006 “Anti Portraits” Mary Place Gallery, Sydney
2005 Photographs, Deluxe Courtney place, Wellington
2003 Music video instillation “Kissing booth” Auckland City Gallery
1996 Video Instillation, Fringe film festival Wellington
1991 Paintings, Deluxe Courtney place, Wellington
1989 Cross pollination, Art Space Gallery, Auckland
1988 Paintings, Deluxe Courtney place, Wellington
1986 Paintings, Deluxe Courtney place, Wellington
FILM PROJECTS
2019 Bernie Griffin and the thin men “My brain exploded
2010 Girl in a black hat short film for Storyboard Project exhibition
2009 Dead Air short film for Sleep Deprived productions
2008 Ted Brown Precious Moments music video for NZ on Air
2008 Kick started” short film for B boy productions
2007 Slipping in time short film for China Heights exhibition
2006 Ted Brown “I bet myself” for Flaming Pearl Music and NZ on Air
2002 Frotteur short film for B boy productions
2001 Mary music video for Global roots records
2000 Before Friday Music video for Polygram records
2000 Mary music video for Panty records
1999 Had enough Documentary for Michael Bird productions ALAC
1997 Think about using Documentary for Hanmer Institute Auckland
1995 Future stupid Music video for Wildside records
1992 Jean Paul Sartre Experience Music video for Festival records
1991 Dead flowers Music video for Festival records NZ on Air
1990 Money Worries Music video for Wild side records
1990 Red Letter Short film for Arts council of New Zealand
1989 Naked Angel Short film for Iron Eye productions Wellington
1989 Positivity music video for Wild side records
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