Collection: Artist: Matt Tommey

MATT TOMMEY ARTIST BIO AND STATEMENT

I grew up in the deep south - Columbus, Georgia to be exact - and there learned to appreciate the simple elegance of nature. I played in the woods, rode 4 wheelers, made forts in the woods with my cousins and was always creating something from nature. A new wildflower arrangement, a rough vine wreath or just a collection of sticks and rocks all fascinated me as a teenager. My parents encouraged my creativity, and it was during these formative years that I began to understand the connection of the words rustic elegance.

When I got to the University of Georgia in the early 1990's after graduating from Young Harris College, I started working at the University Bookstore. There I found a book on basketry that grabbed my attention. The book focused on harvesting and preparing natural materials in basketry and something inside me said "YES!" I took the book home, started experimenting with kudzu and before long was making simple baskets and selling them to my friends and co-workers. I continued to create my baskets as a hobby for almost 15 years until moving to Asheville, North Carolina with my family in 2009. Shortly thereafter, my work began to be noticed by people who loved the simple rustic elegance of my work and I transitioned into art full-time. Since then, it's been a wild ride! I'm now teaching all over the country and even internationally at places like Arrowmont and the John C. Campbell Folk School in addition to some international locations like England, Scotland, Germany, Spain and Australia. In 2011 I was recognized by the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Renwick Gallery as an "American Artist Under 40". WOW, what a ride!

So whether it was the sumptuous layers of color and texture in our family home, the 150 year old hand-hewn mill floors in my aunt's Atlanta mansion, basketry books I found "by chance" or just loving to walk in the woods as a teenager it all came together in me to inform my artwork and natural aesthetic.

Nowadays, I am fortunate to work with clients who fully embrace this idea of rustic elegance in their homes. Some are very traditional, and some are modern but all love that elegant touch of nature coming inside. They embrace fine interior design, beautiful furniture and artwork but at the same time want a little whimsy that really defines the southern elegance of living in the country. It's a little like Architectural Digest, Mountain Living, Veranda, Southern Living and Garden & Gun all rolled up into one.