Renowned local artist Matt Rodriguez brings a captivating blend of refined eccentricity and counterculture street art to the forefront.

While studying media arts and web design at SBCC, he also acquired diverse skills working as a lab tech for both the ceramics and geology departments. His first mural, which he collaborated on with John Iwerks, can be found on the retaining wall behind the EBS building at City College.

Rodriguez’s current artistic endeavors showcase a versatile approach, encompassing pen and ink drawings, acrylics, oils, and mixed media on canvas. Rooted in street art within the Funk Zone, his works often take on a life of their own, embodying a metamorphic storytelling process inspired by the available mediums.

Influenced by renowned artists such as M.C. Escher and Keith Haring, Rodriguez often employs either a black and white palette, lots of color, or monochromatic elements in his paintings. The simple icon of a little house is portrayed in many of his works, representing home – simplified into its minute form, but with a human-like playfulness

While observing some of Matt’s artwork, one may sense a type of Rorschach test “call to action,” encouraging viewers to create their own story of what they see. His images often suggest a reminder to appreciate each moment, celebrate life, embrace your community, “Do Stuff,” and “Be You.”