Hope by Matthew Shutt is the original starting point in Matthew's collection of fantasy, hyperrealist paintings. The iconic imagery and all American figure represents a hope to the world. The colours are a mixture of multi coloured typography pieces as represented by the books against the icon red, white and blue of the action figure, this creates a conflict of colours that suggest an optimism enforced by the iconic figure.
Matthew Shutt resides in Barnsley in South Yorkshire, England. He attended the University of Huddersfield and put together his first solo exhibition in 2017 at the Bowery in Leeds.
Shutt's subjects are, at the surface, carefree images, predominantly action figures and associated memorabilia. Upon deeper observation, these images are symbolic of the nostalgia of an innocent childhood and a time of hope, brought to the present by the context of its surroundings in everyday objects like art books. The reality and stresses of adult life are superseded by notions of superheroes saving the day.