Matthew Stradling is represented in many art collections in Europe ,America, the Far and Middle East . He is one of the most accomplished painters of the male nude in Britain today. Born in Hertfordshire in south-east England, Matthew now works from his studio in North London. His work has been exhibited internationally and he has had twelve solo exhibitions in London and Paris. In 2001 he was selected by Sothebys to represent Britain in the 2001-2 Young Artist International Touring Exhibition and his portrait of his mother was selected for the BP Portrait Award Exhibition. In 1997 Matthew’s work was included in the exhibition ‘Likeness - Reflecting Sexuality’ at Manchester City Art Galleries, an overview of contemporary artists whose work deals with issues around sexuality. Matthew was awarded a British Academy Scholarship to study for a Masters Degree in Fine Art at the University of Reading and went on to win the Boise Travelling Scholarship in 1990 , enabling him to continue his studies in Rome and Madrid. Whilst at St. Martin’s School of Art, studying for an Honours Degree in Fine Art during the early 1980’s Matthew was introduced to the painting techniques of the Old Masters , whose themes and vision continue to inspire him. He received First Class Honours in 1985.






Much of Matthew’s work celebrates the sensuality of the human form - figures often luxuriating, nude, against lush decorative backgounds or sometimes frozen, naked, into empty fields of muted colour.The textures of flesh are captured with the use of layers of delicate colour and the sensitive rendering of light. The paintings often seduce the viewer with a dream-like flow of imagery, a careful attention to detail and an intense use of colour. However they can also challenge us with their serious intent, questioning ideas of sexuality, desire, fear, mortality, and loss.

Although much of Matthew’s work depicts fantasies of wealth and splendour, it is not the luxury of a materialistic world that is being celebrated, rather the wealth of the imagination, where the mind is free to gather images from different eras, continents and mythologies, creating visions of beauty that seem to be haunted by their own perfection. In this way, Matthew’s paintings convey a certain melancholic yearning for lost eras and a child-like sense of wonder, underlaid with a knowing sense of humour.




1987 - 89The University of Reading
Masters in Fine Art
1982 - 85Saint Martins School of Art
First Class Honours Degree in Fine Art
( Painting )
1981- 82Watford School of Art and Design
Foundation Course in Art and Design




1997Eaton Fund for Artists
1989Boise Travelling Scholarship
1987British Academy Scholarship




2005'Face Value' - The Chelsea Art Gallery , Palo Alto , California.
2004'100 Mothers' - Vision Gallery, London.
'The Nude' - Gallery 39, Swindon.
2002'Artlink @ Sotheby's International Young Art' Touring Programme - Sotheby's New York ,
Tel Aviv and Amsterdam.
Pride Arts Trust Mardi Gras Exhibition - Lauderdale House , London
'British Male Art' - Anton Galerie , Berlin.
2001'Spring Showcase' - The Art Attack Project, London.
'The BP Portrait Award 2001' - The National Portrait Gallery , London.
1999'Group Show' - La Galerie des Figuratifs Expressionistes , Paris.
1997'Likeness - Reflecting Sexuality' - Manchester City Art Galleries , Manchester .
1996The Kiss IV' - Gallery K , London .
'Pleasures Unbound' - The Coventry Gallery , London
1995'The Kiss III' - Gallery K , London .
'Talent' - The Globe Centre , London .
1994'The Kiss II' - Gallery K , London .
'Guys and Dolls' - Phillip Graham Fine Art , London .
'Olympian Arts Auction' - The Fine Art Society , London
'The Sexual Perspective' - Jill George Gallery , London
1993'Fantasy of Form' - The Bruton Street Gallery , London
'Ecstatic Repose' - Ikon Touring Exhibition .
'Olympian Arts' - Centre Point Building , London .
'Masks - Real and Imagined' - West Soho Gallery , London .
'Art for Equality' - ICA , London .
1992'Exposure - The Out in Arts Festival' - The University of Kent , Canterbury .
'Outward Gaze' - The Pearce Institute , Glasgow .
'East and South National Open Art Exhibition' - Norwich Gallery , Norwich .
1991'Passion' - Candid Gallery , London .
1989'MFA Show' - Air Gallery , London .
1988'Between Ourselves' - The University of Reading Art Gallery , Reading .
'The Invisible Man - The Construction of Male Identity' - Goldsmith's Gallery , London .




2005'Black and Gold' - The Adonis Gallery , London.
2002'Nacreous Daydreams' - The Adonis Gallery , London.
2000'Selfish' - The Candid Gallery , London
1998'Paintings' - La Galerie des Figuratifs Expressionistes , Paris .
'The Treasures of the Night' - The Adonis Gallery , London .
1997'Mirror Mirror' - First Out , London .
1996'Mirror Mirror' - The Diorama Gallery , London .
1994'Penetralia' - The Edge Gallery , London .
'Penetralia' - First Out , London .
1992'Paintings' - First Out , London
1991'Paintings' - Zoo Gallery , London .
'Luxuria' - BAC , London .

Works commissioned by Marc Almond, Derek Jarman , Adventures in Motion Pictures Dance Company and the Malaysian
Royal Family.




Books'Outlooks' -ed.by Peter Horne and Reina Lewis - Routledge 1996
'The Sexual Perspective' - Emmanuel Cooper - Routledge 1994
Magazines 'Flesh and Pearls' by Brendan Maton - Rouge Issue 20 , 1995. U.K.
'Interview with Matthew Stradling' by Brendan Maton - Outrage Issue149, Oct.1995 . Australia.
'Art Attack - Paul Burston talks to Matthew Stradling' by Paul Burston - Time Out, 5-12 Feb. 1997 . U.K.
'A Brush with Reality' by David G. Taylor - Blue Issue 9 , June 1997 . Australia.
'SMart - Matthew Stradling' - Ritual Issue 9 , 1998 . U.K.
'Lo Specchio dell'Identita' by Vincenzo Patane - Babilonia Issue 7 , March 1999 . Italy
'Finding Space to Breathe' by Matthew Dunning - Queercompany.com , Feb, 2001 . U.K.
'Principal Artists Exhibiting at Adonis Art' by David Jarrett - The Leslie Lohman Gay Art Foundation Archive No.12 .2004 . U.S.A.
'The Men of Luxuria' by John Calendo - www.nightcharm.com , 2005 , U.S.A.