Special to the LPJ.
Art doesn’t just have to be painting OR sculpting. Something that seems to be common with many of our local artists is their ability to learn, grow and excel in so many different disciplines while using a wide variety of materials, skills and talents all at once.
Meet Matthew Knopps. He’s one such local artist whose passions have led him to explore and experiment with so many forms of art while working tirelessly to inspire the next generation of local artists here in our region.
A native of Scottsboro, Alabama, Matthew first received his Associates in Art at Northeast Alabama Community College, followed by a Bachelors in Fine Arts at University of Alabama in Huntsville. He came to Ruston in 2011 when he began Graduate school at Louisiana Tech, receiving his Masters in Fine Arts. He has since obtained an Ancillary Certification to teach Talented Art in Louisiana.
After 14 years in Lincoln Parish, Matthew’s consistent ambition to grow his own skills supporting other young creators is still very strong. He was named the 2023-24 NELA Region 8 Art Educator of the Year and was a Junior League Grant recipient in 2022 and 2024. Most recently Knopps was awarded Honorable Mention in the 2024 NCLAC Peach Art Exhibit Adult Painting category.
When asked what his art form of choice was, Matthew had this to say, “A little of everything to be honest. My process of choice in graduate school was sculpture, including creating pieces with a focus on repurposing and recycling objects. Currently I make paintings and drawings with any materials that pique my interest or seem best for the job. I tend to choose anything from classic materials like acrylic and pastel to experimental options such as coffee.”
Matthew explains that he loves repurposing pop-culture objects such as movies, videogames, and magazines when he sculpts. When he paints, he says he enjoys creating layered effects with varying mediums and surfaces. Sculpting meets painting when he can build thick textures on a canvas.
Matthew lists Robert Rauschenburg, Jerry Uelsmann, and Bob Ross as a few famous artists who have inspired him throughout the years. However, Matthew also says he sees art constantly in his everyday experiences. Concepts come to him at a moment’s notice, from just commuting back home from work or taking a vacation with his family.
In fact, Knopps says his family is his biggest inspiration. He points out that many of his works have aspects of portraiture, often in an abstract way, with imagery that represents the personalities of his subjects.
Knopps describes himself as process driven. He finds satisfaction from using his hands and giving materials a new purpose, creating something new, and solving a problem. “I’m Inspired by the mundane and exciting,” says Matthew.
Matthew says he wishes more people would take time and watch the world around them. He wants to inspire others to be open to any moment being the one that could have a significant impact on their lives. For creatives he says, “Be willing to make spontaneously. Be in the moment, react, then take a step back and reflect. There is inherent meaning in the deliberate choices we make.”
To keep up with Matthew and what he is creating you can follow him at https://culturalyst.com/matthewleonknopps.
