Matt Brackett is a representational painter of images that
explore personal and family narratives. Though they present
a naturalistic appearance, his paintings do not represent
actual events or reality, but instead offer an alternate, unique
vision. While each image begins in the unordered space of
inspiration, Brackett implements a carefully orchestrated
execution. Preliminary techniques include sketching,
photographic research, computed-aided montages and even
scale modeling. The final result is often one of wonder and
menace that asks us to pause and reflect upon a field of
interpretation.
Brackett was born in Berkeley, CA and lives in Boston, MA.
He received a Bachelor's degree in painting from Yale
University in 1997 where he was the recipient of the Ethel
Childe Walker Prize. His work has been shown nationally in
galleries and museums, including the Aqua Wynwood, FL;
The DeCordova Museum, MA; The Merchandise Mart, IL;
Alpha Gallery, MA; the Brattleboro Museum, VT; Yale
University Art Gallery, CT. He has also been featured in New
American Painting’s juried exhibition in print, issues #38, #56 and #80.
Brackett is the recipient of numerous awards, including grants from the Elizabeth Greenshields
Foundation, the Ludwig Vogelstein Foundation, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and the
George Sugarman Foundation. He has held residencies at Yaddo and the Virginia Center for
the Creative Arts.
Brackett’s work appears in the collection of Wellington Management in Boston and numerous
private collections in the U.S., India, Germany and England.