Matt Tommey - Contemporary Basketry & Handcrafted Baskets
About the Artist...
Matt Tommey's work blends nature's raw beauty with the timeless art of basketry. His woven creations whimsically combine traditional weaving and painting techniques with a variety of materials including vines, bark, wax, pigments, clay, and metal. Since experimenting with the invasive kudzu vine in the early 1990's as a student at the University of Georgia, Matt has drawn inspiration from traditional Appalachian basketry while infusing his work with a distinctive contemporary flair that is all his own. Each piece begins with a meditative journey into the forest, where Matt carefully selects materials. This process ensures that each element contributes to a unique design and superior quality. He often uses southeastern invasive species, chosen for their aesthetic appeal and ability to convey nature's resilient beauty. Matt's recent works have expanded into sculptural collections for walls and tables, incorporating various materials like metal, wax, natural pigments and clay to add texture and depth. Whether in the format of a single vessel, a sculptural collection nestled in branches or a niched cold-wax and oil painting, the complexity and simplicity of the natural world shine through Matt’s unique artistic voice. His pieces are truly expressions of movement and life, capturing the dynamic interplay between nature, the artist's hand and divine inspiration. Central to Matt's artistic philosophy is his quest to speak the language of natural materials. He views his work as a dialogue between the artist, the elements, and the Creator, honoring each material's inherent qualities while pushing traditional artistic boundaries. This approach lets him explore themes of growth, transformation, and connection, making each piece a narrative of his artistic journey. Matt's art graces luxury mountain and coastal homes, where collectors appreciate how his work resonates with the environment. His pieces, with intricate patterns and organic shapes, celebrate nature's artistry, bringing tranquility and wonder into any space. Over the years, Matt’s work has been featured in publications like Garden & Gun, Martha Stewart’s American Made Awards, and Our State. In 2011, he was recognized as an American Artist Under 40 by the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery. Matt is a long time member of the prestigious Southern Highland Craft Guild. In addition to his own artwork, Matt is passionate about helping other artists thrive in their creative endeavors and to that end has authored 7 books (available on his website), is a popular speaker for conferences around the world and currently leads an artist mentoring program for over 2000 artists in every creative medium called "Created to Thrive". Some of Matt's favorite topics to teach on include renewing your mind, prophetic art and pricing your artwork. Find out more about Matt's work with artist mentoring at www.MattTommeyMentoring.com. Articles about Matt: 
From the Artist...
It has been said that all creativity happens at the edge of chaos and order… For me the chaos just happens to look like tangled, gnarly vines wrapped tightly around strangled trees and laurel, pods and cones littering the forest floor; the order like a beautiful sculptural basket that reminds me of its source. Somewhere in the middle is where the magic happens, where Creativity broods over the chaos and new life begins; beauty is born. A simple walk through forest explodes into a symphony of possibilities; back breaking in giddy glee as I carry the treasures toward their purpose. What once was dead is now alive, that which was hated is now desired, that which had no breath suddenly heaves with hope afresh. The weaving is the easy part; it's seeing beauty while it's still hidden that is the adventure. Even though these woven creations seem to simply form in the hands of their maker, as if to say it is only skill that brings them to life, it must always be remembered that every basket begins with a walk in the woods. It's time to take a walk. My handcrafted baskets are a whimsical collaboration of traditional weaving techniques, vines, bark and recycled metal. Since the early 1990’s, my interpretation has offered a heartfelt nod to my roots in Appalachian basketry while offering a contemporary expression that is all my own. My most recent work focuses on the use of a wide variety of southeastern invasive species, encaustic wax and recycled metal in the creation of sculptural art vessels. For me, every basket begins with a walk in the woods. I pay close attention to the materials I choose while harvesting to ensure the most unique design features and highest quality. My artistic voice centers around a quest to truly speak the language of natural materials in a fluid manner. By responding to nature and incorporating many different barks, vines, and branches, I am able to create one-of-a-kind sculptural creations that merge my contemporary style and love for movement with the simple beauty of nature. 
"The Thriving Christian Artist" podcast with Matt Tommey is the official podcast of Matt Tommey Mentoring & The Worship Studio, hosted by internationally recognized artist, speaker, author and mentor Matt Tommey.
The Thriving Christian Artist Podcast is for artists who want to bust through roadblocks that have held them back for years, create the art they love and live the life the they know God created them to live as an artist in His Kingdom. Listen, subscribe and review my podcast via iTunes, Stitcher, GooglePlay or my website www.MattTommeyMentoring.com/podcast |
I Am A Maker
I was made to be a maker With busy hands and thoughts and dreams. I see the things that no one else sees And wonder why not me. I begin in places not understood Just to end in places of unexpected joy. I dream of beauty yet manifested And wake to craft the wind. I hear the sounds of life blowing through ideas As I quiet my soul and quicken my hands To make, create and release the dreams Of the One who dreams with me. I am a Maker. Copyright 2014. Matt Tommey Professional Associations
Juried Member, Southern Highland Craft Guild Juried Member, Piedmont Craftsmen (2012-2014) Member & Board Member (2011-2014), National Basketry Organization Member, North Carolina Basketmakers Association (2011-2014) Member, American Craft Council Member, National Basketry Organization Member & Board Member (2013), River Arts District Asheville, NC Member & Instructor, Handmade in America Awards & Recognitions 2011 Festival Commissioners Award, International Willow Festival, Nowy Tomysl, Poland 2010 American Artists Under 40 Registry, Smithsonian American Art Museums Renwick Gallery 2012 1st Prize, Natural Materials Basketry, North Carolina Basketmakers Convention 2013 Award of Excellence, Piedmont Craftsmen 50th Anniversary Fair 2014 Finalist in Craft Category, Martha Stewart Made in America Contest 2014 Finalist in Basketry, Niche Awards 2015 Featured Artist, Cashiers Designer Show House 2015 & 2016 Featured Artist, Grove Park Inn 2016 Featured Artist, Grovewood Gallery 2016 Best of WNC Winner - Craft Category 2016 Selected Artist, Excellence in Fibers 2016 Juried Competition- Fiber Arts Magazine 2017 "New Varieties in Basketry" - Snyderman-Works Gallery, Philadelphia, PA Media Features 2011 The Laurel of Asheville Magazine 2011 National Basketry Organization Quarterly Review 2013 Featured Artist, ArtsyShark.com 2013 Garden & Gun Magazine 2013, Featured Artist, FibertArtNow Magazine 2014 Featured Author, Arts Business Institute 2014 Featured Artist, Our State Magazine 2014 Featured Artist, Carolina Home & Garden Magazine 2014 Featured Artist, The Textile Blog 2015 Featured Artist, WNC Magazine 2016 Article, The Laurel of Asheville 2016 Featured Artist, SEVEN Magazine of The Cliffs 2016 Featured Cover Artist, Asheville Citizen-Times 2016 Best of WNC Artists Winner, Mountain Express 2017 Featured Artist, Garden & Gun Magazine Blog 2018 Best Artist Mentor by Professional Artist Magazine 2019 Featured Cover Artist, Encaustic Arts Magazine 2024 Feature Article, NC Living Magazine Teaching 2012 - 2015 John C. Campbell Folk School 2013 – 2015 Arrowmont School of Art and Craft 2012 Textile Art Center, Brooklyn, NY 2016 Fibre Arts Australia and Timeless Textiles - Australia Various basketry guilds and conferences around the United States Author 2011 Unlocking the Heart of the Artist 2013 Crafting Your Brand 2014 Creativity According to the Kingdom 2016 Every Basket Begins with a Walk in the Woods 2018 Created to Thrive 2020 How to Connect with God to Create & Sell Your Art 2021 Prophetic Art 2021 How to Price Your Art 2023 God's Plan for Living *all titles available on Amazon.com |