Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Thomas.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Based in Memphis, Tennessee, I am a multidisciplinary artist and videographer known for a diverse body of work that spans digital media, traditional oil painting, video, books, and satirical content. My backstory is a “mutt-mixture” of sports (track and field) and several near-death experiences as a teen, evolving from a reluctant church boy who turned away from religion to find his own way.
I won several awards as a young artist in the ’90s, which led me to believe that an art career was the best option for a decent life; I am still waiting on that verdict. While at MICA, I fell in love with videography and produced a short film that ran the film festival circuit in the early 2000s. I decided to move to NYC in 2005 and secured two internships (one was with Ridley Scott that “turned to dust”) while working in New York nightclubs and as a production assistant on music videos and commercials.
In 2009, I met a financial advisor named Jamil Ahmed(RIP) who got me into equities and stocks and convinced me to end my “couch savings” account. After I was fired from my club gig, I started stock trading. One night out partying, I met a MICA alumnus, Jovan Speller, at the Studio Museum in Harlem. This led to me creating promos for openings at the MoMA, the Guggenheim, and the Studio Museum in Harlem.
A series of personal misfortunes occurred and I needed to return to Memphis, TN. My mother was diagnosed with cancer in 2010 around the time I decided to start a book titled Love, Sex & Drunk-texts (2012). It gained significant buzz in 2012 and launched my work nationally. I was back in the game, traveling to NYC and receiving significant press for what seemed like my big break. When that fizzled out, I still needed to make money at home, so I began shooting real estate photos in the “hood” for Reedy & Co. while teaching at Memphis College of Art (thanks to Cat Pena.).
MCA went under in 2018 and by 2022, all of the “cheap money” for real estate ended with the federal interest rate hike. I applied for a corporate gig with Archipix, where I learned how to shoot and edit polished realty photography. I quit after a year started my own freelance business for a number of real estate companies while teaching at Christian Brothers University as an adjunct professor (thanks to Nick Pena.
I also secured a few licensing contracts with FOX and Hilton Hotels from 2015-2019, along with television and film collaborations (thanks to Coralina Meyer.) and other connections in San Francisco and Chicago. During an artist talk in Memphis at CMPLX in 2018, I ran into filmmakers Sarah Fleming and Joann Selvidge and was offered an art direction gig for the film Juvenile: Five Stories (2022). Forward to 2025, I finished my second book, The Book of Matthew, last summer. These days, you can find most of my work and history on my website, Matthewmatics.com.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My struggles were both internal and external. My biggest downfall was my own. I played “adult” too early. I tried to snatch a lifetime of wins in 10 years or less. This caused major creative setbacks, depression and dark moments because I simply wasn’t wise. I overshot for things in places I was not groomed for, as college and people surrounding you never really warn you about. Only the losses in life show you. Betrayal shows you. The more I ran from my losses, the more of them I created. Everywhere I went, I found myself. The old you and the “new” often met at the strangest times. The things I disliked about my past, my family, or background always found me in my new home. I was the carrier. Eventually, I had to face or come to peace with all of that shit. I grew to hate incompetent leadership because it was everywhere. But the real issue was my lack of self-governement. I had ambition, but no patience. I had drive, but I had no idea just what the industries of art and entertainment would take. There were people I wanted to bring along with me, but should have left alone much earlier. Sadly, there were a lot of sexual things went on in “meetings” and parties that I didn’t want part of. A lot of that is being dragged towards the light thanks to the #MeToo movement of 2019 and the Epstein files release of 2026. I missed those opportunities because I wasn’t willing to pay the price for admission. A bit older, I’ve accepted the cost of being Matthew Thomas. I don’t blame anyone else. I admit that I have done some things I swore to myself I wouldn’t just to survive in this world. I’ve learned from that. Having the conviction of a code really clears the vision of which road to take.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Matthewmatics, llc?
In Memphis, I shoot events and realty photography. Nationally, I create volume prints for hotels and produce product photography images.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Visit my website for portfolio work or send me an email at info@matthewmatics.com for more details.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://matthewmatics.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matthewmaticsdotcom?igsh=anFjcmYydGpqdXJ3
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MatthewThomasMediaProduction
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-thomas-647b9235b/
- Twitter: @MThomasArt
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@matthewmaticsdotcom
