Matthew Belval

Originally from Granby, Matthew Belval lives and works in Montreal. At a young age, he was introduced to painting by a Montérégie artist. He continued his artistic development in various institutions, but it is in the bohemian world that he found his way. In the summer of 2009, Matthew left his hometown to settle in the metropolis, where the condition of the homeless moved him. The neighborhood awakens his sensitivity to humanity, despite social barriers. He begins a touching series of paintings dedicated to the street. Starting in 2014, Matthew regularly visits La Rockette bar to paint in front of an audience with a handful of other artists. In 2015, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Quai des brumes, the artist exhibited 30 portraits of men and women who participated in the development of this essential Montreal bar. This period soon immersed him in the world of music, which allowed him to forge links with singer-songwriters. In 2016, he started the "Backstage" project, presenting artists from the stage, off stage. In particular, he was approached by Jacques Jacobus to create the cover of his album. In 2018, his work makes its first appearance in film. He was asked to create an original work for the short film "La Porte", which tells the story of an agoraphobic painter played by Patrick Huard. Since 2014, his work has been repeatedly selected to participate in fundraising events organized by prestigious foundations such as Art Sida, Jacques Bouchard and Le Groupe Perron.

Matthew Belval is currently pursuing a series of intimate portraits, featuring artists in their neighborhoods, including Louis-Phillipe Gingras, Ngabo Kiroko and Klo Pelgag, as well as being represented at the Station 16 urban art gallery in Montreal.

Matthew Belval is a naturalist painter whose work is the consecration of the everyday. In his paintings, he gives pride of place to subjects that usually escape representation. Whether it is a container covered with graffiti, the leftovers of the morning table or a face without make-up, the artist seeks to pay tribute to nature as it is. There is something fundamentally universal in this ordinary beauty.

His approach

While almost everything challenges her, the human being represents the most recurrent subject in her practice. Regardless of social status, it is the challenge of resemblance and the desire for transcendence that guides the artist. The encounter between the material - clothes, accessories, tattoos - and the immaterial - look, posture, emotion - constitutes a pleasant lottery. Each individual has a combination that makes portraiture infinitely inspiring.

The preliminary research is carried out through photography. As words are exchanged, Belval's lens searches for states of mind. His gaze is at human level. He favors spontaneous compositions and natural light sources. Then, the artist selects the print, observing the positions and expressions. He places particular importance on patterns and textures, finding pleasure in translating both beaded necklaces and plastic bracelets. He observes and records the smallest details, then meticulously transcribes them with his brushes. Although the photo remains a reference throughout the creation, the artist proceeds to transform the image.

Piles of oil paint and puddles of liquin spread on the palette, canvases coated with gesso, an easel resting on a modest carpet as well as a few neon lights frame his studio. Freehand, the artist draws the first lines of the composition, using a grid in thirds and a charcoal stick. At this stage, he abstracts what is disturbing, even subtracting the environment around the subject. If the supporting objects tell a story, the accompanying voids guide the eye to the essential.

From his realistic work emanates a classical facture, without excessive smoothing. The brushstroke of the painter is apparent. Between impastos and transparencies, his palette remains sober. The dirty colors sublimate the bright colors. Belval's portraits are honest, never boring. He empathizes between the subject and the viewer, without passing judgment. Belval democratizes the art of classical portraiture. In this sense, his approach is resolutely contemporary

Light on the artist's work

«Matthew Belval turned street art on its head with oil paintings of homeles people you would recognize in downtown Montreal.»
Encan Décover Auction, 2e édition», 17 décembre 2013, p.24.

"Moments of the year: Art"
John Pohl, The Gazette [En ligne], 21 décembre 2013

«Matthew Belval»
Micah Lochart, Décover, no 19 (Novembre 2012), p. 42-44.

«Les refusés. Arts figuratifs contemporain québécois»

Décover, No. 18 - Numéro spécial (Octobre 2012), p.3 et 19.

G.D. «Matthew Belval, jeune artiste au long parcours»,

La Voix-de-l'Est (Cahier publireportage), 3 juin 2008, page 13A.
Curriculum vitae

Matthew Belval
matthewbelval.com

EDUCATION
Academy of Arts & Fine Arts, Varennes, Quebec (2007-2008)
Cégep Marie-Victorin : Fine Art, Montreal QC (2007)
Champlain College : Fine Art, Lennoxville QC (2005-2006)
Private drawing & painting courses (1993-2000)

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
Portrait de poubelle, Casa Obscura, Montreal QC (2020)
Poubelle Swell, Marc Gosselin Gallery, Montreal QC (2019)
Untitled, Bistro 360, Montreal QC (2019)
Brasserie EtOH, 8100 St-Denis street, Montreal QC (2018)
Untitled, Mtl en Arts, Montreal QC (2017)
Backstage, Divan Orange, Montreal QC (2016)
30 têtes du Quai, Quai des Brumes, Montreal QC (2015)
Au Nyk's, Bistro Pub Nyk's, Montreal QC (2012)
Portraits of the world, Café Coop Touski, Montreal QC (2012)
Sketched Portraits, Pasta del Arte Restaurant, Granby QC (2011)
Maison de la culture de l'Avenir, L'Avenir QC (2011)
Observation phase, Crystal Racine Gallery, Montreal QC (2010)
Café Globe, Granby QC (2009)

GROUP EXHIBITIONS
Nuit Blanche, Green, Marc Gosselin Gallery, Montreal QC (2020)
Winter Fever, Galerie 2112, Montréal QC (2020)
On board 2, Marc Gosselin Gallery, Montreal QC (2019)
After Picasso, Espace Mushagalusa, Montreal QC (2019)
Jean-Tal exhibition, Infoman, Montreal QC (2019)
Art cible, Atelier / Galerie 2112, Montréal QC (2019)
Christmas Market, Marc Gosselin Gallery, Montreal QC (2018)
White, Marc Gosselin Gallery, Montreal QC (2018)
Big Guy & Babe, Foufounes électriques, Montreal QC (2018)
On Board, Marc Gosselin Gallery, Montreal QC (2018)
Infoman, Jean-Tal Gallery, Montreal QC (2018)
XL4 Montréal Art Interculturel (MAI), Montréal QC (2017)
Gala de la Dix, 10 years of live painting, Quai des Brumes, Montreal QC (2017)
Art Fix, Lulu Café & Gallery, North Melbourne, Victoria AUS (2017)
Annihilation, 106U Gallery, Montreal QC (2017)
Beaux Dégâts, Frank Frazetta, Play Montréal, Montréal QC (2016)
12x12, Abyss Gallery, Montreal QC (2016)
Hybride, Abyss Gallery, Montreal QC (2016)
Apocalypse, Abyss Gallery, Montreal QC (2016)
Untitled, L'Escobar, Montreal QC (2015)
The future starts now, Divan Orange, Montreal QC (2015)
Untitled, Café des bois, Montreal QC (2015)
Untitled, Bobby McGee, Montreal QC (2015)
XL, Espace 40, Montreal QC (2015)
Tatoo, Abyss Gallery, Montreal QC (2015)
La foire du 3e, 135 Van Horne, Montreal QC (2015)
12x12, Abyss Gallery, Montreal QC (2015)
Between 2 worlds, Montreal QC (2015)
John Lennon Auction, 2nd edition, Montreal QC (2014)
Patch, Divan Orange, Montreal QC (2014)
Décover's 5 years, Montreal QC (2014)
Kick Flip, Abyss Gallery, Montreal QC (2014)
Duo, Creative Space, Montreal QC (2014)
La foire du 3e, Atelier Van Horne, Montreal QC (2014)
C'est gros en petit, 2nd edition, Galerie Zéphyr, Montréal QC (2014)
Untitled, Le Loft Gallery, Montreal QC (2014)
Shooting at Au Quai-Corral Expo Western, Quai des Brumes, Montreal QC (2014)
Temporal shelter, Montreal QC (2014)
Skirmish, 106U Gallery, Montreal QC (2014)
Pixels, Rialto Theatre, Montreal QC (2014)
Congregation, Gallery 106U, Montreal QC (2013)
Monstra, Ste-Brigide Church, Montreal QC (2013)
Zephyr, it's big in small, Galerie Zephyr, Montréal QC (2013)
La foire au 3e, Ateliers Van Horne, Montreal QC (2013)
Décover #18 and #19, Marché St-Jacques, Montréal QC (2012)
Les refusés, Marché St-Jacques, Montréal QC (2012)
Apocalypse, Crystal Racine Gallery, Montreal QC (2012)
Aversion, 106U Gallery, Montreal QC (2012)
Armaggedon, 106U Gallery, Montreal QC (2012)
Inflation, 106U Gallery, Montreal QC (2012)
2012, 106U Gallery, Montreal QC (2012)
Vanity, 106U Gallery, Montreal QC (2011)
Paranormal, 106U Gallery, Montreal QC (2010)

BENEFIT EVENTS
Artsida7, Exhibition-encan to benefit ACCM (AIDS Community Care Montreal) - Sida Bénévoles Montréal, Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal, 2017.

Parle-moi d'amour, Exhibition-encan to benefit the foundation Les impatients, to help people with mental health problems, Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal, 2017.

Groupe Perron event, Benefit auction to help sick children and people with mental illness, Brome Lake, 2014, 2015 and 2016 editions.

An evening of art, benefiting the Jacques-Bouchard Foundation, to help sick people live their last moments in the privacy of their homes, surrounded by their loved ones, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, 2015.

Les artistes se mobilisent pour la lutte contre l'itinérance, Encan bénéfice [en ligne] au profit du magazine L'Itinéraire, 2014 edition.

PERFORMANCES
Lives Painting, 24H DAC, Montreal QC (2020)
Live Painting, Escogriffes , Montreal QC (2019)
Mtl en Arts, Performance artist, Container "Portrait", Montreal QC (2017-18-19)
Live Painting, bar Le Divan Orange, Montreal QC (2017)
Mural, bar Le Divan Orange, Montreal QC (2017)
Art Battle "Final", Matahari Loft, Montreal QC (2016)
Live Painting, La place Valois, Montreal
Live Painting, bar La Rockette, Montreal QC (2014-15-16-17-18-19-20)
Live Painting, bar Le Belmont, Montreal QC (2014
Performance at Festival Carmagnole, Saint-Charles-sur-Richelieu QC* (2014)
Live Painting, Festival Mural, Vernissage Décover "Légendes urbaines", Infopresse, Montreal QC (2013)
Live Painting, Soirée Art Blitzzz, Shop A9, Montreal QC (2013).
Live Painting, L'encan Décover, Marché St-Jacques, Montréal QC (2012).
Photographer for artist Sarah Maloney's performance. Something white, something blue, something borrowed, Galerie Ctrl Lab, Montreal QC (2010).