Mathew Calandra has an unmistakable and arresting linear style. Sharp, sinuous, awkward and dynamic, some have likened his line-work to that of Egon Schiele, the great symbolist-expressionist artist of the late nineteenth century. Like Scheile, with his hand, Mathew transforms the most banal subject matter into something of deep mystical beauty.

Mathew works mainly in etching, drawing and gouache, and draws inspiration from everyday life, ancient fables and horror films. “I like to use pen and pencil,” says Mathew. “I draw ducks. I draw them using pens and technical markers. I paint them using ink and wash. I make Egypt by doing hand sewing.”

Freddy Kruger featured in many of his early pieces. More recent works see him focus on people from the real world, reimagined as folkloric figures, as in Artist as Pharaoh after Theodore Wohng by Pei Pei He (2018).

Mathew’s curriculum vitae documents an exhibition history that includes both national and international curated exhibitions, in Holland (Galerie Atelier Herenplaats, Rotterdam) and in Sydney (Cement Fondu, Grace Cossington Smith Gallery). In 2021 his triptych, Stations of the Cross, was selected for the Sulman Prize for subject painting at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

Mathew has undertaken residencies at the prestigious Cicada Press within UNSW Art & Design and Red Room Poetry. At UNSW he worked alongside significant Australian artists the likes of Reg Mombassa, Elisabeth Cummings and Vernon Ah-Kee. Mathew’s works are held in the permanent collections of the Art Gallery of New South Wales and Artbank.