Matthew Malkowski
Matthew Malkowski grew up in a family without professional artists, but with a strong appreciation for art cultivated by his grandparents. From an early age, they introduced him to exhibitions, museums, and art history, consistently sharing their enthusiasm with him and his brother. That sustained exposure played a formative role in his early interest in art and helped establish a foundation of curiosity and attentiveness that continues to shape his practice.
As an emerging artist, Malkowski initially worked almost exclusively with graphite, using drawing as his primary mode of exploration. This focus remained central through much of his early development, where drawing functioned as both practice and instinct. It was during his undergraduate studies, and now throughout his MFA program, that his work expanded materially. He began experimenting more freely across mediums, developing a practice that now includes film photography, oil painting, and a range of printmaking techniques such as lithography and monoprinting. This period of experimentation allowed him to test the limits of his ideas and discover how different materials could shift the conceptual and emotional register of his work.
His creative process is grounded in looseness and experimentation at its earliest stages. Before committing to a large drawing or painting, he begins by freely scribbling and generating numerous small sketches, allowing ideas to emerge without expectation or pressure. Working in a small sketchbook creates space for conceptual thinking without concern for final form, and he often finds that his strongest ideas surface during this phase of unstructured play. This approach enables him to prioritize thinking and intuition before refinement.
Malkowski’s work frequently engages themes of identity and the individual’s relationship to the external world. He is particularly interested in how architecture, culture, and familial experience shape perception and self-understanding. These elements recur throughout his work as quiet but persistent forces that influence how people come to see themselves and interpret their surroundings.
Reflecting on his own trajectory, he notes that his commitment to art began without a clear long-term plan. He now emphasizes the importance of intentionality, especially in a competitive field. He stresses the value of refining one’s craft early, seeking out exhibition opportunities, building relationships with other artists, and thinking critically about long-term goals. While acknowledging that this advice may sound familiar, he views preparation as essential to sustaining a creative career with confidence and reduced stress.
As he continues his MFA journey, Malkowski’s practice remains rooted in drawing while expanding through material experimentation and conceptual inquiry. His work reflects a sustained attention to how personal history and external structures intersect, shaping both artistic process and perception.
