William Matthews was born in 1949 in New York City. He grew up in the Bay area. His professional career began in Los Angeles as a graphic artist designing album covers for Warner Bros., and Capitol Records. A listing of commissioned artwork for Album Covers and Compact Discs are listed below.
The 2007 published monograph, William Matthews: Working the West, showcases the artist’s work devoted to the working cowboys of the American west. Forbes, FYI, magazine hailed him as the new Remington of American painting. Other areas of study are included in the Exhibition Catalogs; Hats & Headwear,(2008); Yellowstone,(2007); Italy,(2007); Canyon de Chelly,(2005); Scotland,(2003); A Wet Line: Fly-fishing on the Rivers of North American,(2002); Land of the Rajput,(2001); Buckaroos of the Great Basin,(2000); Fast Horses,(1999); Ireland,(1997); Heart Land,(1996); China,(1995); The Blue Nile,(1993); and Sketches of Spain,(1992).
William Matthews paintings are widely exhibited nationally and internationally. His work has been part of two Meridian International Center curated exhibitions, Out West: The Great American Landscape, 2007-2008, and True Colors: Meditation on the American Spirit, 200-2005, venues included; the National Art Museum of China; Shanghai Art Museum; Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Center; the Topkapi Palace, Instanbul; the Allied Museum, Berlin; National Gallery of the Arts, Albania; Millennium Court Arts Center, Northern Ireland.
His work is included in numerous private and public collections including, Museum of the West, Autry National Center; Buffalo Bill Historical Center; Eiteljorg Museum; The National Cowboy Hall of Fame; Gilcrease Museum; Joslyn Museum; Booth Western Art Museum; Phoenix Art Museum; Tuscon Museum of Art; and the Denver Art Museum.