Born 1991 in Cambridge, Massachusetts

Lives / Works in New York

Matthew Spire’s work is an exploration of the intersection between language, abstraction, and the human figure. Through a process of deconstruction, Spire examines the ways in which language shapes our perceptions and understanding of the world, and how meaning is often fragmented, distorted, or lost in translation. His figurative work serves as a counterpoint to this conceptual exploration, grounding his inquiry in the human form.

Spire’s paintings, drawings, and mixed media works manipulate both visual and verbal symbols, breaking down conventional representations of the body and language. Words, phrases, and text become forms that interact with or even overwrite the human figures in his work, creating a tension between legibility and abstraction. This interplay invites the viewer to reconsider the role of language in constructing identity, thought, and communication.

The figurative element in Spire’s art is not just a literal representation but a means of questioning how we relate to ourselves and others through the prism of language. His figures, often fragmented or obscured, embody a sense of disconnection, vulnerability, or transformation—reflecting the complexities of human experience in an increasingly mediated world. By stripping away or reassembling the components of both the figure and language, Spire’s work suggests that meaning is not fixed, but fluid, and that communication, like the human body, is constantly in a state of flux.

Ultimately, Matthew Spire’s art is a meditation on the malleability of both language and the human form, challenging viewers to confront the ways in which we construct and deconstruct our own narratives. Through his unique fusion of abstraction and figuration, Spire invites us to question the boundaries of communication and perception in the visual and linguistic landscapes of contemporary life.