Carlyle Matthew Biography
Carlyle Matthew’s fascination of art and the creative process began at eight when he first cast masks out of newspaper and breadfruit paste on moulds of mud. This was influenced by the many images of masked characters passing his home during the carnival celebrations in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad each year. This creativity continued in the carving of wooden tops, making of kites and tuning of metal pans for music, among other interests.
In 1970 Carlyle first began making and selling Afro combs, jewellery, sandals and other ornaments out of wood, metal, leather, suede and sundry materials. These early creative endeavours, eventually led to art in the form of wood and stone sculptures and masks.
In his current series, “Love and details of love – Moko transcending” the artist uses (in several of the pieces) the heart shape design of African masks that inspired him many years ago, as an icon to represent love, in focusing on this aspect of life that we share as human beings.
Though “Moko” is the central character of the series and each piece unique in its own right, “Uncle Paul” an abstract and colourful mask done as a commentary and tribute to Picasso’s interest in African art, is used as an impetus for colour in many of the works. Among other masks featured in this series are Heart of love, Hope out of hopelessness, Curvy contemplates flight and Seeking nectar.
Carlyle first showed his works in 1980 after being invited to the “Black Artist in the Canadian Milieu” exposition at McGill University, Montreal; at A-Space gallery in Toronto during the Celafi exhibitions (celebrating African Identity) of 1992 & 1997; he has exhibited in several single and group shows in Canada, and his works have also been featured in magazines, newspapers and television interviews. Carlyle has produced a large body of work for exhibitions and apart from those commissioned, his art is collected locally and abroad.
Carlyle has shared his creative knowledge by tutoring adult students in the lower mainland of British Columbia, Canada. In 1996 he received the “Arts & Culture” award from the Alumni Association of the University College of the Cariboo (now Thompson Rivers Univ.), from where he is a 1975 Business Administration graduate. In 1999, he was commissioned by the Black Business Association of BC to create an award (Winged Spirit) in the name of Emery Barnes (former Speaker of the legislative assembly of BC), one copy of which was presented to Stu Jackson, then GM of the Vancouver Grizzlies, the other to Michelle Williams, then owner/editor of the Afro News. The artist has donated art to various charitable organizations in BC, and has recently produced a series of collectible Art prints, posters and post cards of his works.
As an artist, Carlyle views his ever evolving art and interest in the creative process as an odyssey of discovery, “but in terms of objectivity, the masks I create can be viewed as media in their own right, acting as relays to issues of concern, icons of culture and myth…visual reflections of thoughts and ideas that engage us today”.
In 1970 Carlyle first began making and selling Afro combs, jewellery, sandals and other ornaments out of wood, metal, leather, suede and sundry materials. These early creative endeavours, eventually led to art in the form of wood and stone sculptures and masks.
In his current series, “Love and details of love – Moko transcending” the artist uses (in several of the pieces) the heart shape design of African masks that inspired him many years ago, as an icon to represent love, in focusing on this aspect of life that we share as human beings.
Though “Moko” is the central character of the series and each piece unique in its own right, “Uncle Paul” an abstract and colourful mask done as a commentary and tribute to Picasso’s interest in African art, is used as an impetus for colour in many of the works. Among other masks featured in this series are Heart of love, Hope out of hopelessness, Curvy contemplates flight and Seeking nectar.
Carlyle first showed his works in 1980 after being invited to the “Black Artist in the Canadian Milieu” exposition at McGill University, Montreal; at A-Space gallery in Toronto during the Celafi exhibitions (celebrating African Identity) of 1992 & 1997; he has exhibited in several single and group shows in Canada, and his works have also been featured in magazines, newspapers and television interviews. Carlyle has produced a large body of work for exhibitions and apart from those commissioned, his art is collected locally and abroad.
Carlyle has shared his creative knowledge by tutoring adult students in the lower mainland of British Columbia, Canada. In 1996 he received the “Arts & Culture” award from the Alumni Association of the University College of the Cariboo (now Thompson Rivers Univ.), from where he is a 1975 Business Administration graduate. In 1999, he was commissioned by the Black Business Association of BC to create an award (Winged Spirit) in the name of Emery Barnes (former Speaker of the legislative assembly of BC), one copy of which was presented to Stu Jackson, then GM of the Vancouver Grizzlies, the other to Michelle Williams, then owner/editor of the Afro News. The artist has donated art to various charitable organizations in BC, and has recently produced a series of collectible Art prints, posters and post cards of his works.
As an artist, Carlyle views his ever evolving art and interest in the creative process as an odyssey of discovery, “but in terms of objectivity, the masks I create can be viewed as media in their own right, acting as relays to issues of concern, icons of culture and myth…visual reflections of thoughts and ideas that engage us today”.