Conversations | Matthew Allen

Matt is a mixed-media artist living in Costa Mesa, California

Describe the art you're currently making to a 5 year old.

I carve big stamps and press them on pieces of old sails. I also take photos of surfers and the ocean. Sometimes I put the photos in hot water. They float around like jellyfish and I try to catch them and put them on paper.

Your preferred method of getting that good creative vibe going.

I do such a variety of creative things, weaving them together with the business aspects, so I just try to lean into whatever activity matches my current energy. So there isn't really one preferred method. I do usually put on some music in the background, but that also changes with my energy.

One living artist or designer you want to have cocktails with.

I’m going to hijack this question. I often attend the Greenroom Festival in Japan with a crew of other artists from around the world. We've made a tradition of going out for drinks and noodles. We add and subtract other artist friends when they're around, but the core group is Jonas Claesson, Nick Kuchar, Christie Shinn and me. The whole crew hasn’t been together for a few years and I would love to have cocktails (and noodles) with them again soon.

What drives you absolutely nuts about the (art) world.

Gatekeeping! Especially in the surf art world. Some very insecure, established artists work hard to keep other artists down. I think there's enough for everyone, and I enjoy helping other artists succeed.

A quote that your brain won't shake.

"You have everything you need."

Advice, compliment, insult...something someone once told you that you will never forget.

I love you, Uncle Matt.

Last book you read that you couldn't put down.

Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life by William Finnegan.

Most recent song that you found yourself putting on over and over.

Love Takes Miles by Cameron Winter.

A time you surprised yourself by the art you created.

I have a show of block prints on linen up at Folklore in Santa Fe, NM. I am colorblind, and it ended up being really challenging to achieve what I wanted with color while printing on the linen. As we know, colors change depending on the color(s) they are next to. So every color changed once it was on the tan linen. It was so hard for me to adjust the mix of colors to find the right solution. After mixing color for 2 hours straight I finally gave up, and just printed what I had. It ended up being one of my favorites that I made for the show.

A piece of art in your home that you LOVE

This was the first piece of art that I ever bought. When I graduated college and began my career in the arts, I adored the work of Geoff McFetridge. I bought this piece at a group show at my friend Will Pennartz’s Surf Gallery in Laguna Beach.

Recent life upgrade that's been a game changer.

I have a pretty sweet surf/camper van. It was in the shop for 3 weeks, so I was resigned to riding my bike, and skateboarding, for transportation. I just got the van back. Total game changer. First thing I did was drive to Malibu to surf and hang!

Do you take in a song's lyrics or melody first?

I really dig lyrics, but it's still melody first for me.

What podcast or show are your recommending that others may not have heard or seen?

It’s pretty popular, but “This American Life” podcast is at the top of my list. I used to listen to it years ago, before podcasts existed, on KCRW, the local public radio station.

If someone asks you to cook your "specialty", what are you cooking?

I’d probably be most confident making a salmon bowl with quinoa, avocado, spinach, air fried sweet potatoes, olive oil, vinegar, and lemon, with a little beet and fennel sauerkraut.

Huge shout out to _____ for ______!

My parents for always believing in me, and encouraging me in my pursuits, even though many of the pursuits were very different than what they were into.

Check out more of Matt's work here!