I was born in Kendallville, IN, in 1983. I studied sculpture and woodworking at Ball State University with Kenton Hall and Pat Nelson. Throughout my undergraduate career, I developed a love for sculpture and woodworking that has grown into a life-long interest. I graduated from Ball State University in Muncie, IN with a Bachelor of Fine Art in Sculpture in 2006. I am continuously honing my skills and learning new techniques to incorporate into my art as my artistic career progresses. I currently live in Baltimore, MD, with my wife and son, Becky and Oliver. My work has been shown in some group shows and juried exhibitions. My current series began with my undergraduate thesis but has continued to change and grow as I discover new techniques and take inspiration from new sources. The freedom and simplicity that working with wood allows me has created a turning point in my artistic career. My work incorporates elements of the human figure into functional furniture while using an innovative wood-inlay technique. My works do not depict the figure as a whole, but often take inspiration from smaller parts of the body that are then abstracted and simplified. I utilize aspects of wood itself, such as wood grain, to emphasize figurative elements within each sculpture. My designs are influenced by modern and contemporary styles but I use traditional woodworking techniques to create my art. Organic curves, exotic wood, unity, and abstractions are the key elements of my current work. I use wood-inlay to create lines, definition, and color in a similar fashion to a painter. Matthew Heimann |