Cork artist puts more than 120 vibrant works on show

IT’S no great surprise that Matthew Sweeney is creative. His father happens to be renowned poet John W Sexton, his brother Gerard is a fellow Cork-based artist, and his mother is a devoted gardener in their family home in Carks, Kenmare.

All were looking forward to attending the opening of Matthew’s latest art exhibition My Stories in Bishopstown library. I met Matthew the night before, as he was gearing up to make his speech and planning what to wear for the occasion.

Matthew is a 35-year-old young man with ASD. He is supported by The Brothers of Charity Services Ireland (BOCSI) Southern Region in Cork in their residential and day services. Matthew is flourishing since moving to Grangevale in 2019. The other men living in the house, with whom he is close, also attended the launch in Bishopstown.

I visited him, alongside his caregiver Donal O’Connell, who has worked with Matthew for the last two years, to chat through Matthew’s work and his inspiration.

From the moment I enter Matthew’s kitchen, I am struck by the vibrancy of colour and form in his pieces. There is great joy in them.

“Matthew paints a lot of animals. He favours acrylic on canvas,” Donal explains. “A lot of the animals he’ll paint are from his home in Kenmare. The animals are a huge source of inspiration for him.”

Matthew guides me around his space. Animals dominate, in bright colours. He points out pieces of people too, identifying himself in some of them.

“This is Matthew and Donal having coffee,” Matthew tells me.

“He often uses his experiences,” adds Donal.

So, if he goes out for coffee with myself or Lindsay, his other keyworker, he will create a painting of it when he comes home.

Clearly, these are very happy memories for Matthew and there is a palpable warmth between the two men.

His art, the medium through which Matthew shares the story of his life, is widely celebrated. In July, 2023, he was one of ten artists selected to exhibit at the Connecting Artists exhibition, at the Royal College of Surgeons (RCSI).

His work has also been supported by various individuals and groups. He has exhibited in many group exhibitions and this year was given the opportunity to further his artistic skills through a mentoring course run by Connections Arts Centre.

Other work framed and waiting to be put up on the walls of his kitchen when I drop by are from another recent exhibition. These, as Donal explains, are of specific sites in Cork, and formed part of an exhibition with Connecting Artists at Art Source Cork, City Hall from October 6-8, 2023.

It’s been a busy few months for the artist, he says.

“Matthew went for drawings instead of paintings for that exhibition and used crayons to depict iconic places like The Blackrock Tower,” says Donal.

“He paints here all the time but also attends a day service in Castlehyde, Mallow. He’s started to do pottery there too, making statues of the same animals that inspire his paintings.”

Matthew smiles as he records his most recent creations.

I made a cow, a sheep, a horse, cat and dog.

A prolific artist, Matthew’s My Stories exhibition includes 120 pieces, a testament to the hours he puts into his work. In fact his output is so considerable that much of it is stored, sorted and cared for by his mother in Kerry.

His brother, artist Gerard, has also been heavily involved in the run-up to this exhibition, doing all the preparation in advance of the big day.

Donal guides me through Matthew’s process.

“Matthew paints every day. He will often complete a piece in one sitting. We sometimes try to slow him down but he is really very confident when he knows what he wants to draw. On the odd occasion, he will draw and then come back to work on it the next day. He usually draws and paints what he sees in real like but sometimes he will paint from pictures he finds in books.”

Donal highlights a gorgeous picture of a black and white sheepdog on the wall with an ochre background. The piece incorporates some of the shading techniques he learnt through the Connecting Arts Programme.

His passions are not limited to painting, however. He has also inherited his mother’s love of gardening and makes the absolute most of his own garden beyond his kitchen, strewn with wet autumn leaves when I make my visit.

“In the summer, I grow strawberries and lettuce and tomatoes,” he tells me.

He also added his art to his outdoor space, painting giant sunflowers on the walls for everyone to enjoy.

“Matthew really looks after his garden,” adds Donal. 

“In the summer months he waters everything, from roses to crops, every night and we all get to taste the fruit and vegetables he grows. 

He’s really very good at it. He is extremely independent and keeps his home very tidy as well. He calls on us for help every now and again but he manages very well.

Matthew is extremely generous with his art too.

“I have a number of his pieces in my house. Everyone who works and lives here has some of Matthew’s work. He really loves to give his work to people.”

Donal leans in to Matthew to ask him where he hangs his work.

“You hang them in your study,” replies Matthew. “You have paintings of a goose and bees, a deer, a duck and of yourself, Donal.”

“He likes to know where his work is and who has what. He really enjoys sharing with people.”

In this spirit of sharing, Matthew has also recently launched his own Instagram so his artwork can reach more people.

Matthew Sweeney’s My Stories exhibition continues in Bishopstown library until October 25. All pieces are on sale and individually priced. His work is online at https://www.instagram.com/matthewsextonart/