Matthew Grimes (b. 1976, Virginia, USA) earned a BFA from James Madison University. While an undergraduate, he earned multiple awards and received annually the Marion Park Lewis Foundation Grant. Upon graduation, Matthew apprenticed with Kevin Crowe, of Tye River Pottery, in Amherst County, Va.  After moving to Washington, DC, he began teaching as adjunct faculty with the Corcoran College of Art + Design  while also working as the ceramics studio technician. During this time, he also taught ceramics for three years with The Art League (The Torpedo Factory), in Alexandria, Va.

In 2010-11, he lived and worked in Bizen, Japan, with current Japanese National Treasure Isezaki Jun, as a short term apprentice investigating the centuries old methods and techniques of Bizen studio ceramics. After returning to Washington, DC, he later moved to Santiago, Chile, where he began an additional studio and the seed development to his current mixed media collage. 

Matthew's work, both ceramics and mixed media collage, has been shown in numerous national group exhibitions while also exhibiting solo both nationally and internationally. His work is held in private collections in both the USA and Chile, including the Rutter Family Art Foundation, Norfolk Tug Company, Capital One, and Hilton Worldwide.

In 2017, Matthew was awarded a Virginia Museum of Fine Art Professional Fellowship, with subsequent participation in the Fellowship Statewide Exhibitions Program including Workhouse Arts Center of Lorton and Capital One Arts Program of Richmond.

He most recently was awarded the 2020 Eure Best in Show, in the 42nd Annual Frank Stick Memorial Art Show, of Manteo, North Carolina, where he currently maintains a studio. 



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