About Nathaniel Mather
The paintings of Nathaniel Mather, in their shallow spaces, childlike renderings of animals, flowers, and rough-edged patches of color evoke early 19Th century primitive art, and yet a rich symbolic allusiveness and playfulness of spirit give his work a sophistication and poise that are emphatically contemporary. Born and raised in California , Nathaniel received his education from , California Institute of the Arts and Art Center College of Design.
Since the early days of his painting, Nathaniel’s work has addressed his longing for a spiritual connection with God and an ongoing relationship and dialog with him.” I am processing what it looks like to paint work that is true, beautiful and restorative, I want to reflect God’s wonder and grace while wrestling with daily struggles and pain”. Nathaniel explains,” I can easily fall back to a position of destructive, let’s break all the rules attitude, but I have found that an attitude of anger and disconnection does not enable me to produce work I am interested in”.
In 1996 Nathaniel began to incorporate text and found objects into his paintings to illustrate the current cultural slide. Often his images are parallel to his daily life and struggles, which he shares with the viewer. Nathaniel has discovered that over the years he has found his own vocabulary of images that represent the world around him. The horse and donkey are a common image in his work, suggesting the strength and beauty of God. Birds and flowers represent human characteristics and emotions.
Incorporating stamps and paper into his work gives the paintings a quality of age, travel and experience.
Paintings are done in water medium materials usually on canvas or board.
Along with his fine art , Nathaniel is an illustrator working for such clients as Warner Bros./Reprise Records, Brown University, American Lawyer Magazine, Johns Hopkins University, Liberty Records, Coast Magazine and many more.
Nathaniel lives and works in Nashville TN.
Education
California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA
Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA
Current Gallery Representation
The District Gallery, Knoxville, TN
Jules Place, Boston, MA
Meyer gallery, Park City, UT
Anne Irwin Fine Art, Atlanta, GA
Bee Street Gallery, Dallas, TX
Museum Solo Exhibitions
“Shape of Color” Customs House Museum, Clarksville, TN April 2018
Solo Exhibitions
“Memories” – Shain Gallery , Charlotte , NC, April 2015
"Highland Park Series" – Bennett Galleries, November 2010, Nashville TN
“Drink from This Cup" – Kelleghan Fine Art, November 2008, Atlanta, GA
“The Elder Son" – Tucker Gallery, October 2008, Chicago, IL
“Across the Water" – Fraga Gallery, September 2008, Seattle, WA
“The Insult of Grace" – Giacobbe/Fritz, July 2007, Santa Fe, NM
“Ten Times" – Bennett Galleries, May 2007, Nashville, TN
“Ink to Water" – Foxhall Gallery, September 2006, Washington, DC
“Draw Near" – Bennett Galleries, June 2006, Nashville, TN
“There Is No Other” – Giacobbe/Fritz, July 2005, Santa Fe, NM
“70 Mile journey” – Foxhall gallery, December 2005, Washington, DC
Other Solo Exhibitions
Anne Irwin Fine Arts, Atlanta, GA 2003
Print Gallery, Birmingham, MI, 2002
Posner Gallery, Birmingham, MI 2001
East field Gallery, New Bern, NC 1999
State Street Gallery, Los Altos, CA 1999
Vault Gallery, Cambria, CA 1998
Masks International, Seattle, WA 1991
Recent Group Shows
Anne Irwin Fine Art, Atlanta, GA
Shain Gallery, Charlotte, NC
Jules Place, Boston, MA
Bee Street Gallery, Dallas, TX
Douglas Flanders & Associates, Minnesota, MN
Gallery MAR, Park City, UT
Pryor Fine Art, Atlanta GA
Atelier Gallery, Charleston, SC
The Attic Gallery, Vicksburg, MS
Bennett Galleries, Nashville, TN
Recent Additions to Permanent Collections:
Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Phoenix, AZ
Yale University Children’s Hospital
Marriott Corporation
University of Virginia Children’s Hospital
Warner Bros.
University of Iowa children’s Hospital
Nashville Chamber Orchestra
University of Chicago
Suite 28 Records
Peter Frampton
Published Work
Anthropologie, Spring Collection, New York, NY
Grand Image, Seattle ,WA
Edition Limited, San Francisco, CA