Matt creates functional pottery inspired by his home on Wadandi Boodja, drawing on influences from the studio ceramic traditions of the South West and Great Southern, his time spent studying traditional pottery techniques in Korea and the Mingei philosophy of Japan.
With support from generous mentors in the South-West pottery community, Matt has developed his practice as a studio potter in Cowaramup, WA. Self-funded study trips to South Korea introduced him to traditional techniques that he reinterprets for contemporary Australian life. Recently, he has been the recipient of a Foster A Potter mentorship grant, which has allowed him to study and learn from wood-fire potter Chester Nealie.
Matt's deep connection to the South-West drives him to ethically source local materials—collecting ash from farmers' bonfires, gathering red clay from dams, and investigating road cuts for pure white clay—creating a strong sense of place in his work.
Matt is interested in the two faces of functional pottery. The raw materials from the local area: earth, rock minerals and ash, and form: its usefulness and longevity after encountering the flames of the wood-kiln.
From these humble materials, Matt creates pottery pieces that become part of a person’s habit – a favourite cup that is essential to a morning routine, or a serving bowl that holds a treasured dish at family gatherings. He's fascinated by the way that these sturdy, utilitarian objects can, as our constant companions in life, give rise to feelings of affection and intimacy.