Mat Cahill

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Mat Cahill's father was an art teacher and potter. It's in the blood. Look out for Mat's ceramic pieces.
In 2016, Mat created an installation at the V&A as part of the Design Nation Festival.
Mat collaborated with interior design company West Elm in 2014.

British artist Mat Cahill is known for his illustrative drawings that document issues concerning contemporary society, from identity and individuality, to anonymity and masculinity. Characterised by groups of figures, abstracted forms and patterned portraits, Mat’s style encourages the viewer to delve into our own place in society and our relationship with the crowd mentality. With drawings that often follow a grid format, or a crowded composition, Mat intricately creates complex and detailed pieces of art, sometimes taking up to 400 hours each to complete.

Mat Cahill’s Education and Career

Born in 1984 in Lancashire, Mat grew up surrounded by art and creativity as his father was a ceramicist and an art teacher and his mother taught English. After spending his childhood drawing, painting and designing, Mat went to Loughborough University to study Fine Art Painting before going on to complete an MA at Wimbledon College of Art. Throughout his studies, Mat began showing his work in exhibitions and by 2008 he was working as Damien Hirst’s studio assistant. Over the past ten years, Mat’s signature illustrative style has become established internationally and has led to shows across London, Manchester and Hong Kong.

Artistic Inspiration

Over the course of his career, Mat has been inspired by a range of artists, citing Nicholas Bourriaud, Jeremy Deller, Jean Michel Basquiat and David Hockney as particularly influential to his practice. His art looks at all aspects of contemporary culture, from pop music to folk culture.

Take a look at 13 Questions with Mat Cahill and learn more about the artist.

Selected Works

Another social blanket  by Mat Cahill

Another social blanket

Drawings - 21x15 cm
Social Quilt by Mat Cahill

Social Quilt

Drawings - 21x15 cm
Connect by Mat Cahill

Connect

Drawings - 54x38 cm
Another connection  by Mat Cahill

Another connection

Drawings - 54x38 cm
Isolation  by Mat Cahill

Isolation

Drawings - 54x38 cm
Connections in grey by Mat Cahill

Connections in grey

Drawings - 59x41 cm
Lockdown in green by Mat Cahill

Lockdown in green

Drawings - 54x38 cm
Islanders study 9 by Mat Cahill

Islanders study 9

Paintings - 32x24 cm
Islanders study 8 by Mat Cahill

Islanders study 8

Paintings - 32x24 cm
Islanders study 7 by Mat Cahill

Islanders study 7

Paintings - 32x24 cm

Islander study 6

Paintings - 32x24 cm

Islander study 5

Paintings - 32x24 cm

Islanders study 4

Paintings - 32x24 cm

Islanders study 3

Paintings - 32x24 cm

Islanders study 2

Paintings - 33x24 cm

Islanders study 1

Paintings - 32x24 cm

Social composition 2019

Drawings - 20x14 cm

Islanders study 10

Paintings - 32x24 cm

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