Matt Griffin
Glimpse of Eden
Oil on Linen
2050 x 1555 mm
$30,000
Available
“The Fibonacci Spiral, like the endangered okapi, wasn’t invented. It has always existed, quietly recurring in shells, storms, and seeds. Many people just never notice.
For centuries, the okapi was known only to the Congolese people: a forest spirit, whispered about but never seen. Western scientists dismissed it as myth until 1901, when explorer Sir Harry Johnston sent proof: a skull and a striped hide. The ‘African unicorn’ had been real all along.
That’s the heart of this painting. It is a reminder that beauty, mystery, and wonder are everywhere – sometimes hidden in plain sight – waiting for someone to slow down and really look.
– Matt Griffin
Artist Bio
Matt Griffin is a contemporary New Zealand artist based in Auckland, known for his compelling large-scale portraits that explore the emotional resonance of both human and animal subjects. Working predominantly in charcoal, graphite, and aerosol spray paint, Griffin’s practice is grounded in realism and defined by its acute attention to expression, intimacy, and viewer engagement.
His compositions often straddle the threshold between photographic precision and raw emotional insight, inviting the viewer into a moment of suspended connection. Whether depicting an iconic figure, an anonymous face, or an animal subject, Griffin seeks to uncover a shared sense of dignity, presence, and vulnerability.