Matthew Trueman, New and True

Self portrait of Matthew Trueman

Matthew Trueman has been showing his work at Westland Gallery for a few years and is currently pursuing his Masters of Fine Arts at the University of Western Ontario. Matthew’s current work for his MFA has seen his practice move in a new direction in regards to medium, while still exploring themes surrounding humankind’s relation and interaction with the environment. In a sneak peak (see image below), we can see what Matthew means. Metthew created an apparatus to project light through a silkscreen as it rotates. While we see this projected onto a wall, the final piece will be installed in a forest, and we can’t wait to see the finished product! The physical screen as part of the piece, and not just the means, shows a progression in Matthew's work. 

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Preview of Matthew's new work

PictureJack, Woodcut Print, 42x61"

Jack, Woodcut Print, 42x61"Matthew’s first solo exhibition at Westland was entitled Dirt (2016), and included a collection of woodcut prints and photographs that deal with the relationship between colonization and the environment, something Matthew believes can still be seen in the ever-expanding suburbs of Canadian cities. Jack (below), one of the woodcut prints available at Westland Gallery, directly responds to the industrialized landscape. A ruined hillside is the result of Jack’s resource exploration, while the mirrored print draws the eye into the image. 

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The muted palette in Dirt shows a departure from Matthew’s earlier work, yet he has returned to colors in more recent creations. Sun Tree, (see below) uses motifs of line and nature rendered in a beautiful blue. This time the eye is treated to a botanical print, a focus on the specific rather than the all encompassing landscapes in Dirt. To see what works Westland has available, visit or click here!

Sun Tree, Woodcut mounted on panel, 40x40"