Helen Lam | Contributor
Featured Image: Matheson’s art is the vehicle he uses to raise awareness of bigotry towards the LGBTQ community. | Courtesy of Tyler Matheson
York is known for educating some of the most talented and creative people in the world. One of these imaginative artists is Tyler Matheson, a fifth-year visual arts and art history (studio) student York. As a kid, he found delight in doodling. For him, everything was an art project, whether it be title pages for science projects or Valentine’s Day cards. Now, with much more experience and many lessons learned, Matheson takes on a new style of expressing art—through painting and photography.
He says it was during his third year that he decided to try abstract painting, which he immediately became fascinated by. To him, painting requires diligent effort and creative thought. “I paint in a hard-edge abstract style, experimenting with colour, technique, and subtly with materials. I find painting more restricting; it makes me work harder and think in a more originative way about what I want my painting to look like. Every step of completion of a painting is therapeutic, and it’s quite rewarding,” Matheson says.
However, what makes Matheson remarkable is his strength in connecting with others on a personal level. It’s his personal experiences of emotional and physical abuse, along with the idea of coming to terms with his sexuality, that make his productions unforgettable. Audiences don’t only see what’s on the canvas, but also hints of the artist himself.
“I’m not tackling issues that haven’t been talked about before, or a style that hasn’t been pursued before by various successful artists. I make work that pertains to my experiences. I’m not the first gay painter to use art as a medium to interpret social issues. It’s more about persistence and continuing to discuss these things,” Matheson says.
He uses art as a vehicle to raise awareness of bigotry, micro-aggressions, and LGBTQ issues to ensure that they remain relevant in the eyes of community members. He shares a piece that he is most proud of, one that he crafted in his fourth year. It focuses on the emotions that comes with a queer identity: the reality of hiding behind a facade and the challenges of changing one’s actions in order to shield themselves from bigotry or micro-aggressions. It also revealed how it is a privilege to even be able to present one’s true self without shame.
Often, marginalized individuals end up disappearing into invisibility because of the fear of being rejected by the majority. He looks beyond the fear, continuing to pursue his artistic endeavours and creative visions. He innovates from what he knows, and does not hold back.
Various accolades have been bestowed upon him in recognition of his achievements, including two Senior Awards in painting and photography and the Student Choice Award in 2016, both of which were earned at York’s end-of-year galleries. Matheson comments that the university’s art department is quiet, with each student corresponding to a relatively isolated niche.
“However, there’s a real sense of togetherness during the year-end show, or during the few interdisciplinary group shows that happen over the year,” he says. “That’s when I feel most connected to everyone, as students and as artists here at York.”
