Matthew Bates

1970, Washington, DC
I was born into an artistic family, in a place for politics. I got out soon after my 18th birthday and moved to California, there a teacher sent me on a quest to Florence, Italy, where I fell in love with all things Italian. That was in 1990, I have been here ever since.I paint in the style of Magic Realism, my own style, based on realistic subjects, where I tweak the dimensions to add time and space, accentuating colors and details.

I went to Sidwell Friends where I learned how to love painting, followed by 3 years at the Academy of Art College in San Francisco where I learned the basics of design and drawing techniques. 15 years of living in Florence has taught me more than anything else about what art is and how to be a serious artist. Just being able to compare the quality of the work here with my own has helped enormously. 1997 Artisans Gallery, Washington D.C.1998 Watergate Gallery, Washington D.C.1998-2000 Mannaioni Gallery, Firenze1998 Piansa Gallery, Firenze1998 Kennedy Center, Washington D.C.2001 American Consulate, Firenze 2001 Kens Gallery, Firenze2001 Florence Art Gallery, Firenze2001 Art-E-Mail, Marbella, Spain2002 Agora Gallery, New York City 2002 Art-E-Mail, Marbella, Spain2003 Enoteca Giraldi, Firenze2004 Figaro Gallery, Annandale, Virginia 2005 Figaro Gallery, Annandale, Virginia2006 Flowers That Last Forever - May 13 - June 11, 2006 - Figaro Gallery, Annandale, Virginia2006 "Art in Progress" Featured artist on Italian TV Channel "Leonardo"2008 NEEL Gallery, Paris2009 NEEL Gallery, Paris2009 Galerie NEEL, Cannes,

1997 Artisans Gallery, Washington D.C.
1998 Watergate Gallery, Washington D.C.
1998-2000 Mannaioni Gallery, Firenze
1998 Piansa Gallery, Firenze
1998 Kennedy Center, Washington D.C.
2001 Ken’s Gallery, Firenze
2001 Florence Art Gallery, Firenze
2001 Art-E-Mail, Marbella, Spain
2002 Agora Gallery, New York City
2002 Art-E-Mail, Marbella, Spain
2002 American Consulate (Firenze, Italy)
2003 Enoteca Giraldi, Firenze
2004 Figaro Gallery, Annandale, Virginia
2005 Figaro Gallery, Annandale, Virginia
2006 Flowers That Last Forever - May 13 - June 11, 2006 - Figaro Gallery, Annandale, Virginia
2006 "Art in Progress" November 5, 2006 - Leonardo TV Watch Video
2008 NEEL Gallery, Paris, France
January 24 to February 16, 2009 - NEEL Gallery, Paris France
2009 Galerie Neel, Cannes, France
2010 Galerie Neel, Cannes, France
June 11 - 25, 2010 "Oltre La Prospettiva"("Beyond the Perspective")- (One Man Show) at Padaglione Berti - Sesto Fiorentino (Firenze) (Watch the Video)
October 2 -17, 2010 "Le Scatole nel Mondo - Il Mondo in una Scatola" in Palazzo Pretorio, Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze (Collective Show)
December 12-19, 2010 "Giuseppe Pescetti" - in Palazzo Pretorio, Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze (Collective Show)
December 15, 20...