Happy Birthday
Oil and Acrylic on Board, 30x30cm, 2024

Study of a Skull with expressive use of paint, warm tones to juxtapose with the subject matter. 

Portrait of James Joyce
​ Oil, Acrylic and Enamel on Canvas, 60x80cm, 2024

Painted whilst listening to Ulysses and exploring the Area in which the book was written. A great deal of inspiration has been gained from these walks, influenceing my latest body of work.

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Where it All Began (WIP), 2024
​ Oil, Acrylic and Enamel on Canvas, 50x60cm, 2024
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A bold, introspective self-portrait piece that plays with elements of street art and classical portraiture. The floating head, surrounded by existential questioning, speaks to the disembodied feeling of navigating personal identity in a new place, while remaining grounded in universal themes of self-awareness and existential questioning. I am Developing this Work for the upcoming Orpen Prize.

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Vandalism or View of Sandy Cove Beach
​ Oil, Acrylic and Enamel on Canvas, 60x50cm, 2024

This work questions what is considered vandalism and what is not. Is this picturesque scene depiciting vandalism in the form of bulidings and man made interference on an otherwise wild and beautiful landscape? 
Is vandalism not vandalism if it has been there a long time, or if it is visually appealing. Or is something only vandalism if the governing body of the day deems it so? probably a silly pondering but one that occurs often in my mind. 

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In the following series of paintings “Dionysian Ecstasy,” “Meditazione” and “the Beaked Goddess” there is an overwhelming intensity and rawness in the expression and coloration that creates the intensity which this series of works inspired by Rome exudes. ​

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Dionysian Ecstacy
​ Oil, Acrylic and Enamel on Canvas, 50x60cm, 2024

The figure in “Dionysian Ecstasy” appears to be in a state of deep release, transcending conventional emotions into a realm of wild, primal joy or agony—echoing the frenzy associated with Dionysian rites. The almost blurred, liquified face suggests a dissolving of boundaries, possibly between the self and the divine, or between human and ecstatic experience. The bold, dripping colors—orange, yellow, pink, and black—create a visceral, almost tactile sensation, as if the viewer is witnessing something that is simultaneously spiritual and bodily. Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, ecstasy, and ritual madness, is known for embodying the duality of pleasure and destruction, and the painting channels that tension: the face, while seemingly in ecstasy, also has undertones of anguish or a loss of control. The dark graffiti in the background contrasts sharply 

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Meditazione
​​ Oil, Acrylic and Enamel on Canvas, 50x60cm, 2024

“Meditazione” While still having the same striking elements discusses the opposite experience of gaining knowledge. Based upon the statue of the same name. Religious symbolism interests me, especially here is Ireland seeing so many depictions of Roman Catholic Symbols. It makes me contemplate the migration of ideas and peoples and why we believe what we do. ​

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The Beaked Nose Goddess
​​ Oil, Acrylic and Enamel on Canvas, 60x80cm, 2024

“The Beaked Goddess” Depicts a goddess of the Air, the image pulled from the Artists imagining, is not depictive of the deity’s background. Exploring the ideas of what was titled ‘paganism’ and playing with animal attributes and the human form as the Egyptians did in their artwork. Looking to challenge and talk to the preexisting iconography depicted in the suite of works.
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Face of Fear
Oil, Acrylic and Enamel on Canvas, 20x30cm, 2024

Also inspired by a recent trip to Rome and its galleries. However this work sits outside of the series, being a more controlled study of sculptural painting and my feelings towards the current state of the world we are presented in the news. We feel we must know what is happening in our broader enviornment, but do we really want to know?

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For more works, Experiments, studies and images of Public Artworks please view my Instagram. ​
www.instagram.com/mat.carey/

If you have any queries regarding availability of original works, comissions, involvement in exhibitions or any other questions about my work please do not hessitate to contact me with the following form, please make sure to add your details so I can get back to you!