Matthew Petrucci is a figurative-expressionist fine art painter. Oil paint is his preferred medium.
He commenced ‘full-time’ painting, in 2011, after retiring from three decades in education. However, his formative art training began, a little earlier, in 2005, with traditional tonalist painter, Fiona Bilbrough (a member of the Twenty Melbourne Painters Society), and impressionist landscape painter, John Bredl, in 2007. This followed a short stint with contemporary art tutor, Kerry Ann Sullivan, in 2013.
Whilst Matthew’s initial art education began with traditional and impressionist influences, a restless desire to strike away from the well-worn painting formulas he was taught, and to do his ‘own thing’, beckoned. A trip to New York, in 2014, to see the works of the American Abstract expressionist painters (past and current) was an epiphanic episode that would profoundly change the way he viewed artwork; he was rewired for a change. It was the beginning of his new creative trajectory into figurative painting; culminating in the creation of his current series of work, broadly entitled ‘Private Thoughts’.
Matthew’s current work dramatically depicts moody gestural figures, set against colourful non-representational backgrounds. He explores the morphology of the human figure to create a sense of longing and loneliness in his paintings. Loneliness in a good sense; as in solitude, or as in a need to transform oneself. His faceless figures, with their unhewn features, and brewing sense of drama and emotional intensity, seem to deepen their mystery and intrigue.
In 2015, Matthew exhibited works from his current series, ‘Private Thoughts’, for the first time, winning ‘Best Painting’ in his price category (St Kevin’s College Art Show), and a ‘Highly Commended’ at the Camberwell Art Show. In 2016, he was awarded ‘Best Contemporary Painting’ at the Bayside Art Show, and in 2017, received the ‘Best Contemporary Painting’ award, at the Grand Art Show (Berwick). In 2018, was awarded BEST NON-TRADITIONAL PAINTING CAMBERWELL ART SHOW. He won BEST OIL (under $1500) at the Whitehorse Art Show (Box Hill) in 2022, and in 2023, he received a BEST OIL PAINTING IN SHOW award, at the Mornington Art show. In 2025, was awarded BEST NON-TRADITIONAL PAINTING at CAMBERWELL ART SHOW, and BEST IN SHOW - Runner Up at the Moonee Valley Art Show. His works are in private collections in Australia and overseas.
Currently, Matthew is working a new series of abstract and semi-abstract paintings, alongside his perennial figurative works (website -www.mpetrucci.com. & Instagram - matthewpetrucciartist)