The Chair

A chair in painting frequently transcends its utilitarian purpose to act as a profound symbol of presence, absence, and human personality. Often depicted empty, as in Vincent van Gogh’s iconic 1888 painting Van Gogh's Chair, a vacant seat can serve as a poignant "self-portrait" or a memorial to a missing individual, suggesting both human habits and the mystery of their departure. Chairs are used to denote status, power, or comfort, with their style—from humble wooden structures to ornate armchairs—offering insight into the character of the occupant or the environment. Whether acting as a central element for contemplation in a quiet room or appearing surreal and out of place, the chair acts as a powerful surrogate for the human form in art.

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Matthew Kane was born in Australia and spent much of his childhood living in the United Kingdom, Greece, Italy, and France. He studied Fine Art at The National Art School in Sydney (1982-1983); Film & Television Production; and later Psychology at the University of New England. He worked in the film industry and developed software, while continuing to create paintings and photography.
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"My work is driven by spontaneity — by responding in the moment to what feels necessary rather than what is expected. I don’t begin with a plan or an outcome in mind. I allow the work to unfold, to interrupt itself, to change direction, and to resist resolution.
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I’m not interested in fitting within established categories and traditions or being limited by conventions. Instead, I follow impulse, curiosity, and risk. Each work is an act of trust — in the process, in uncertainty, and in the possibility that something honest can emerge without being controlled.

What I make is deeply personal but not closed. The work invites viewers into a shared space where meaning isn’t fixed and interpretation is open. I value immediacy over polish, presence over explanation, and authenticity over approval.

This practice is about freedom — freedom to respond, to break rhythm, to contradict myself, and to let the work remain alive rather than finished.

Art, for me, is a form of listening. I trust uncertainty, and I allow the work to remain open, unresolved, and alive. If you spend time with my work and feel something familiar you can’t quite place, then it’s doing what it’s meant to do."
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Matthew lives with his wife on a rural property in the Pillar Valley (northern NSW) along with two sheep, two small dogs, several chickens, and many kangaroos.