who is matias machado ?
Originally from Bordeaux , France , Matias Machado is a contemporary painter whose work exists at the crossroads of abstraction, figuration, and urban culture. Rooted in graffiti, his visual language carries forward the street’s vocabulary of bold forms, sharp contours, and layered shadows, while reinterpreting it through a painterly and timeless approach.
ARTWORKS
ARTIST Q&A
How would you describe your work ?
My work sits between surrealism and figuration. I use simplified, sculptural forms to suggest the human body, focusing on presence rather than narration. The paintings are built through light, shadow, and volume, creating portraits that are quiet, introspective, and deliberately timeless.
What are the main influences behind your practice?
My visual language originates from graffiti. The way I construct forms, shadows, and depth comes directly from spray techniques — layering, gradients, and controlled transitions. At the same time, I am strongly influenced by Renaissance painting, particularly its use of chiaroscuro, compositional balance, and its ability to give weight and gravity to a figure. My work is an attempt to bring these two worlds together.