Matthew Bird is an American painter. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, he graduated with honors from the Pratt Institute of Art in Brooklyn, New York, in 2000. He is a Signature Member of numerous organizations, including the American Watercolor Society and National Watercolor Society where he served as vice president. His award-winning watercolor paintings have been exhibited in juried shows across the United States, as well as in Canada, China, England, Greece, Hong Kong, and Italy. His work is in permanent museum collections as well as numerous private collections.
Matthew has been featured in Fine Art Connoisseur magazine as one of “Today's Masters” (Feb. & Oct. 2018, Feb. & April 2019), American Art Collector (Issue 158, 171), International Artist Magazine (No. 129 Oct./Nov.) Watercolor Magazine “Year’s Best Paintings” (2019, 2020, 2022) and as “One To Watch” (Dec. 2017), The Artist's Magazine (July/August 2017), The Art Of Watercolour magazine (Issue 32), and the Splash-Best of Watercolor book series.
A sought after teacher, Matthew has also been a contributing writer to numerous publications, including Realism Today, Fine Art Today, Artists on Art, and American Watercolor Weekly.
For 15 years he worked as a designer and art director in advertising agencies, specializing in non-profit fundraising. As an illustrator, he has five children’s books published and his paintings have been used as greeting cards for The Smithsonian Institution, National Geographic, and the National Audubon Society, among others.
Matthew lives with his wife and children outside Baltimore, where he maintains his studio.
Artist Statement
The subject matter of my figure and still life paintings communicate my deep love and respect for nature and life. Some paintings stem from a joy or narrative that is from my own experiences. Other pieces reflect the simple beauty I find in everyday objects composed together. I have focused on developing my craft to capture the beauty of what surrounds me with precision and clarity; and strive to convey that to all people through the universal language of representational art. It is my desire that when others see my work they may be inspired by the perceptible signs of the real Creator.
Curriculum Vitae
Matthew Bird (b. 1977)
Baltimore, Maryland
Education
Pratt Institute of Art, BFA
Organizations
ARC Associate Living Master
American Watercolor Society, Signature Member
National Watercolor Society, Signature Member
Transparent Watercolor Society of America, Signature Member
Portrait Society of America
International Guild of Realism
Publications
Watercolor Artist magazine, (Winter 2023) “The Best of 2022 in Watercolor” by Christina Richards
American Art Collector (January 2023) “Textural Delights”
Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine (August 2022) “Still Life in Full Bloom” by Kelly Compton
Private Air Luxury Homes (Volume XI Issue 1) “Elevating the Everyday” by Mandi Keighran
Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine (June 2021) “A Time for Twosomes” by Max Gillies
Elevated Art magazine, spring 2021 issue, “Have Brush Will Travel”
Watercolor Artist magazine, (Feb. 2021) “The Best of 2020 in Watercolor” by McKenzie Graham
Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine (Dec. 2020) “Go Figure” by Max Gillies
American Art Collector (Issue 171) “Standing Still” by John O’Hern
International Realism 14th International ARC Salon, (2019) ISBN 978-1-78884-067-5, 520 pages
International Artist Magazine 137 (Feb./March)
Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine (April 2019) “When Artists Depict Themselves” by Max Gillies
American Art Collector (Issue 158) “Symbolic Objects” by John O’Hern
Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine (Feb. 2019) “Taking Stock of Our Cities and Towns” by Max Gillies
Watercolor Magazine (Feb. 2019) “The Year’s Best Paintings” by McKenzie Graham
Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine (Oct. 2018) “A Fascination with Fish” by Kelly Compton
Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine (Feb. 2018) “Capturing the Spirit of Music & Dance” by Kelly Compton
The Art of Watercolour (Issue 32) Honorable Mention Readers’ Competition
Watercolor Magazine (Dec. 2017) “One To Watch” by Anne Hevener
The Artists Magazine (July/August 2017) First Place All Media Competition
Select Exhibitions and Awards
2022
Invited artist and demonstrator, International Watercolour Masters, United Kingdom
Society of Watercolor Artists — Best In Show
Louisiana Watercolor Society, 49th International Exhibition — 1st Place
Baltimore Watercolor Society Mid-Atlantic Regional Exhibition — Gold Medal
Allied Artists of America — Mary Bryan Memorial Award For Watercolor
2021
International Guild of Realism Spring Salon — Best Still Life
Louisiana Watercolor Society, 49th International Exhibition — 2nd Place
Richeson75 Small Works competition — 2nd Place
2020
International Guild of Realism 15th Annual Exhibition
MOWS 2020 Barcelona International, Barcelona Academy of Art and MEAM (European Museum of Modern Art)
Watercolor Society of Alabama 79th National Exhibition — Best In Show
2019
Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art 3rd Annual National Juried Exhibition
International Guild of Realism 14th Annual Exhibition, Principle Gallery
Best In Show and Best Still Life
American Watercolor Society 152 Annual Exhibition
14th International ARC Salon
Finalist (Still Life Category)
Transparent Watercolor Society of America, 41st National Exhibition
Morris Watercolor Guild Award of Merit
Louisiana Watercolor Society, 48th International Exhibition
2nd Place
San Diego Watercolor Society International Exhibition
2nd Place
National Watercolor Society Member Show
2018
Fabriano International Prize "Marche d'Acqua"
Honorable Mention
Northwest Watercolor Society's 78th International
1st Place
San Diego Watercolor Society
FIG Award to Honor Judy Pike
Louisiana Watercolor Society, 48th International Exhibition
Honorable Mention
13th International ARC Salon
Finalist (Figurative and Still Life Categories)
The Color of Water, Group Show at Robert Lange Gallery
2017
Texas Watercolor Society 68th National
Gold Medal/Best of Show
Rhode Island Watercolor Society 122nd National Show
1st Place — David Marsland Memorial Award
DAWEI International Watercolor Grand Prix
Honorable Mention
Cats Vs. Dogs, Group Show at The Vendue, Robert Lange Gallery
8th Annual Signature American Watermedia Exhibition
Transparent Watercolor Society of America, 41st National Exhibition
Allied Artists of America 103rd Annual Exhibition
Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club Award
Cats vs. Dogs, Group Show at the Vendue, curated by Robert Lange Gallery
Watercolor USA 56th National Exhibition
Georgia Watercolor Society, XXXVIII National Exhibition
Louisiana Watercolor Society, 47th International Exhibition
Awarded Second Place
Watercolor Art Society-Houston, 40th International Exhibition
West Virginia Watercolor Society
People's Choice Award
Missouri Watercolor Society 2017 International Exhibition
Awarded
Illinois Watercolor Society 33rd National Exhibition
Society of Watercolor Artists International Exhibition
Honorable Mention
National Watercolor Society Member Exhibition
Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors
People's Choice Award
Baltimore Watercolor Society Mid-Atlantic Regional Exhibition
People's Choice Award
Muckenthaler Museum Figure Painting Exhibition
Fabriano Watercolor Invitational, Fabriano, Italy
2016
The Artist's Magazine's All Media Competition (for NOLA Beetle)
First Place
National Watercolor Society 96th International Exhibition
12th International ARC Salon
Finalist (Figurative and Landscape Categories)
Allied Artists of America 103rd Annual Exhibition
Kent Day Coes Memorial Award
Watercolor West 48th International Exhibition
National Watercolor Society Reciprocal Award
Kansas Watercolor Society, International Exhibition
Awarded Second Place
American Artists Professional League 88th Grand National
1st International Watercolor Biennale Hong Kong
Biennial International Prize Fabriano Watercolour 2016
Finalist
Fabriano Watercolor Invitational, Fabriano, Italy
Invitational & Attended
IWS Canada 1st International Watercolor Biennale
3rd International Watercolor Biennial of Thessalonika, Greece
Georgia Watercolor Society
Awarded
Louisiana Watercolor Society
Awarded Honorable Mention
Southern Watercolor Society
Awarded
Illinois Watercolor Society
Spirit of Bonnie Award
Pennsylvania Watercolor Society
Philadelphia Watercolor Society
People's Choice Award
Rocky Mountain Watercolor Society
2015
NWS - National Watercolor Society/China Exchange Exhibition
Fabriano Watercolor Invitational, Fabriano, Italy
Invitational & Attended
Watercolor Salon of Thessalonika, Greece
BWS Mid-Atlantic Watercolor Exhibition
People's Choice Award
2014
National Watercolor Society 94th International Exhibition
Winsor & Newton Award
11th International ARC Salon Finalist
BWS Mid-Atlantic Watercolor Exhibition