Matthew Kentmann Australian, b. 1977

Matthew Kentmann is an Australian artist living and working in Sydney. Kentmann's practice is motivated by his environment and connection to Australia's plentiful bushlands and wildlife. 

Thematics of nature, particularly birds, has largely informed Kentmann's body of work. The birds break the formal elements of the landscape, creating movement in an otherwise static medium. Kentmann's practice nods to various historical artists such as Velazquez, Turner and Van Gogh who each paid a devoted homage to birds. 

Kentmann's practice also extends to portraiture. His work has been selected as a semi-finalist in the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize (2012, 2015 and 2016) and was a finalist in the Archibald Prize in both 2015 and 2021.