Matt Kotch (born in southern California USA in 1967,he grew up in Orange county during the 1970’s)
Beginnings
Matt Kotch is self -taught artist native to So. Cal. Matt has the eye of a naturalist and often the fish he’s caught in local waters become the reference points to begin his unique and creative process of amplifying and exaggerating the colors, textures and details from life. With painfully bulging eyes and always a menacing mouthful of teeth these monsters of the deep seem to jump off of the canvas. There is a wacky, fun feeling and undeniable sense of humor overall in his work. Matt first became known for his fish puzzle compositions but currently he enjoys exploring symbolism and the narrative in his work. With humanity’s connection to the ocean, its inhabitants, myths and lore there is no end in sight for future paintings. A dedicated artist who paints nearly every day, Matt’s art is truly his obsession. Always searching for a place to bring his “fresh catch” to market, Matt can be found painting on site with his mobile gallery at local tattoo conventions, car shows and the world famous Fred Hall fishing show He welcomes you to stop by and see his work.
During his childhood he lived within walking distance to Knott’s Berry Farm and the Hollywood Wax Museum which he and his friends made a constant weekend trip, this is where they taught themselves how to panhandle. They always ended up with a pocket full of money. The colorful wax statues of monsters as well as the movie mask’s in the gift shop fed a deep hunger for a young, creative mind. At a local liquor store he discovered “Ed Roth” monster cards so with his extra change he made his first art purchase. Big Daddy Roth was his first taste of low brow. His grades took a back seat to filling notebooks with pictures of aliens, zombies, wear wolves. His interest in fishing took over in about 5th grade and put art and monsters on hold. He would spend all his free time at local lakes or he would ride his bike down the storm drain to the beach to fish the piers sometimes at 4 a.m. Matt took art in junior high and high school, and he graduated in 1986.
Career
Fishhead Art-Huntington Beach, California
Style
Fishhead art is a mutation of his greatest passions, fishing, and his love of the B horror movie monsters, ghouls and zombies of his childhood.
Matt Kotch in Popular Culture
Business Ventures
Honors
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