Contemporary American artist, Grace Matthews honors the importance of family, community, peace, beauty and fun in her painted quilts and Day of the Dead boxes. As a painter Matthew’s pallet is saturated with bright color and pattern reminiscent of pop art. Her visual content is grounded in the personal and emotional experiences of daily life.Grace Matthews graduated cum laude from the University of California, San Diego in 1994, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. While studying at UCSD, Matthews began to work for her mentor, internationally known artist Faith Ringgold. As Ms. Ringgold’s Artist Assistant, Matthews is responsible for administrative tasks, research and studio work.
Currently Matthews shares a studio with two local artists in San Diego and is a member of the National Association of Women Artists, WCA and holds the position of VP for Anyone Can Fly foundation, a non-profit organization focused on impacting history by including Masters of the African Diaspora into the art establishment canon.
Resume
Education
BA 1994 University of California, San Diego (cum laude)
Grants/Awards
2005 Anyone Can Fly Foundation Print scholarship
Solo Exhibitions
2005 Grace Matthews: Quilt & Boxes,
Borelli Space San Diego, CA
2008 Grace Matthews: Boxes
La Jolla Athenaeum Music and Arts Library, La Jolla, Ca
Sept 20-Nov 8, 2008
Group Exhibitions
July 3, 2009
Create an American Dream Quilt
Children’s Museum of Manhattan, NYC
June 30- September 14, 2008
Voices in Cloth: Story Quilts
Queens Library Gallery
Jamaica, NY 11432
September 19 - November 8, 2008
Boxes
The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library
La Jolla, CA 92037
October 14, 2008
Anyone Can Fly Foundation Annual Exhibition/auction “Passion”
ACA Gallery
New York, NY
March 2008
The Cradle Project
New Mexico Community Foundation
Albuquerque, NM
September 3 - 26, 2007
Ancestors Project: A collaboration with Faith Ringgold, Grace Matthews and Linda Freeman
“National Association of Women Artists”
New York, NY 10011
September 14 - November 4, 2007
“Voices in Cloth”
Stephen F. Austin State University's Griffith Gallery
Nacogdoches, TX 75962-3022
“Voices in Cloth catalog, pdf”
October 14, 2007
Anyone Can Fly Foundation Annual Exhibition/auction “It’s All Love”
ACA Gallery
New York, NY
January 21 - February 22, 2007
National Association of Women Artists - "Personal Totems"
Adelphi University Ruth s Harley University Center Gallery
Garden City, NY
May 5 – 17, 2007
DOGS ARE PEOPLE TOO: PORTRAITS OF MAN’S BEST FRIEND
Grace Matthews, Curator, Borelli Space San Diego, CA
March 2007
Women’s Caucus for Art: Women’s Work,
San Diego Women’s History Museum
San Diego, CA
March 5 – April 4, 2007
SoHo Creative’s Women Group Show
73 Warren Street New York, NY 10007
October 15, 2006
Anyone Can Fly Foundation Auction and Exhibition at ACA Gallery
Peace Quilt debut
New York, NY
2005
Dada Art Portraits
Sushi, San Diego, CA
May 8-28, 2004
WCA Spring Exhibition San Diego, CA
October 2004
El dia deLosMuertos, Next Door Gallery San Diego, CA
August 12 – October 2, 2004
Voices in Cloth
Southern Mississippi Museum of Art
Sept 18 –Nov 12, 2004
Group Show Boreill Space
4421 Park Blvd San Diego, CA
Sept 2 – October 1, 2003
Vexillology: The American Symbol in Art, Garden City, NY
Fire house gallery, Nassau Community College, Garden City
1999 -2000
Sewing Comfort Out of Grief
NIAD Art Center Richmond, CA (touring show)
1999 Cross–Cultural Center Gallery, UCSD, La Jolla CA
Womanhood from 1990-1999
Sushi, San Diego, CA
May 8-28, 2004
WCA Spring Exhibition San Diego, CA
October 2004
El dia deLosMuertos, Next Door Gallery San Diego, CA
August 12 – October 2, 2004
Voices in Cloth
Southern Mississippi Museum of Art
Sept 18 –Nov 12, 2004
Group Show Boreill Space
4421 Park Blvd San Diego, CA
Sept 2 – October 1, 2003
Vexillology: The American Symbol in Art, Garden City, NY
Fire house gallery, Nassau Community College, Garden City
1999 -2000
Sewing Comfort Out of Grief
NIAD Art Center Richmond, CA (touring show)
1999 Cross–Cultural Center Gallery, UCSD, La Jolla CA
Womanhood from 1990-1999
1998 The Framemaker, San Diego CA
Woman’s Work
Woman’s Work
1998 Cross-Cultural Center Gallery, UCSD, La Jolla CA
The Politics of Womanhood
The Politics of Womanhood
1998 San Diego Center for the Healing Arts, San Diego CA
The Healing Show
The Healing Show
1997 Paladion 5th, San Diego CA
Annual Members Show Women’s Caucus for Art
Annual Members Show Women’s Caucus for Art
1995 The Art Union Building Women’s Caucus for Art, San Diego CA
Self Reflections
October 18, 1993
The American Family: Inside Out
Creative At Workshop New Haven, CT
Collections
Commissions
2008 Elvis
2007 Wedding Huppa
2007 Met Museum Uris Center Quilt
2006 Inter Relations Collaborative Peace Quilt
2005 BHC Quilt project
Public Collections
Anyone Can Fly Foundation
2008 San Diego Athenaeum Music and Arts Library
Current Employment
1993 to present Faith Ringgold Inc
127 Jones Road Englewood, NJ 07631
(201) 816-1374
www.faithringgold.com
Self Reflections
October 18, 1993
The American Family: Inside Out
Creative At Workshop New Haven, CT
Collections
Commissions
2008 Elvis
2007 Wedding Huppa
2007 Met Museum Uris Center Quilt
2006 Inter Relations Collaborative Peace Quilt
2005 BHC Quilt project
Public Collections
Anyone Can Fly Foundation
2008 San Diego Athenaeum Music and Arts Library
Current Employment
1993 to present Faith Ringgold Inc
127 Jones Road Englewood, NJ 07631
(201) 816-1374
www.faithringgold.com
Affiliations
Women's Caucus for Art San Diego, past president
National Association of Women Artists, member
Current Gallery Representation
none
