It’s always been a part of me. But I suffered a coma/tbi that I was not expected to survive. My art is my life. Now it is my therapy.
You decide who will appear in Artforum Magazine, take home $25,000, and display their work at The Art of Elysium's Salon!
I can create anything. I mostly paint with acrylics, and I love doing portraits and textures (photo realism & abstract). I repurpose a lot of things and put a lot of emotion into everything. It is all my life on canvas. My art will live a lot longer than me. Art should make people feel something.
Where do you find inspiration?The beautiful chaos of my life. My studio is called, The Aesthetic Asylum. I even created an art & music festival in Tampa to benefit mental health with a friend. My art is anything that inspires me, with a beautiful soundtrack. Honest & fearless.
What would you do with $25,000?I’ve been applying for disability for 10 years in Florida. I suffered a three week coma from a traumatic brain injury in a car wreck in college in Tampa, which I was not expected to survive. My life has been a weird downward spiral for 2 decades. I would eat, live, pay off medical bills, and visit my amazing wife 1000 miles away.
Vote for Matt Orefice to become The People's Artist while supporting a great cause! Cast your free daily vote or make an even bigger impact when you vote by donation, supporting The Art of Elysium in their mission to use art as a catalyst to help people triumph over difficult life challenges.
Colossal is a nationally registered professional fundraiser that inspires people to advocate for themselves and those in need. Through online competitions like The People's Artist, Colossal offers participants the opportunity to make their mark while also making a big impact.
