Matt Lamb

Biography

Matt Lamb emerged from the rough-and-tumble streets of 1940s South Chicago to transform a cash-poor funeral parlor into a multi-million dollar business empire. But when a mysterious midlife illness caused him to question the true value of his myriad accomplishments, Lamb stunned family, friends, colleagues and competitors by turning his back on business to become a self-taught painter.

And not just a weekend painter of seascapes and sunsets - Lamb instead painted what he saw in his dreams: undulating spirits and flamboyant visions of heaven and hell, at once sophisticated and primitive, supremely inspired and deeply disturbing.

Today, Lamb's unique vision has made him one of the world's most controversial painters. Tagged by some as an "“outsider" ”artist, a designation he patently rejects, Lamb has seen his work collected by the Vatican Museums, the Sorbonne, and fashion designer Pierre Cardin - even as his art has been blacklisted by some of New York's most powerful dealers. He has won rapturous reviews from critics in publications from London to Karachi and has been hailed as an heir to Pablo Picasso, even as he - and his millions - have been derided as the antithesis of starving artist chic.

In a new book, Matt Lamb: The Art of Success, renowned writer and critic Richard Speer tells Lamb's story in a no-holds barred style that is both uncompromising and uplifting. Given unprecedented access to Matt Lamb's inner circle and the artist himself, Speer traverses the world to provide an entertaining and honest picture of what drove Lamb to triumph in the diametrically opposed worlds of art and business.

Speer coaxes Lamb to talk about the unconventional spiritual beliefs that inform his paintings and examines why the artist, who feistily straddles the bohemian and commercial worlds, has become a lightening rod at the center of some of the art world's fiercest battles.

As a visionary artist, Lamb's highly charged, expressionistic style transcends the "primitive" label through his sophisticated use of color and composition. Lamb's oil paintings feature a lively cast of characters that are his own fantastic creations; with themes ranging from pure whimsical expression to personal, social and religious commentary, Lamb's work has the innate ability to connect with viewers on many levels.

"Lamb is certainly one of the most important artists in the art world today."
- Prof. Giorgio Pilla, Venice Italy

"Lamb's art arrives as a moment of reconciliation among people. In a time of war and terror, he brings comfort and hope with a new message."
- Professor Dr. Paolo Rizzi, San Marco Museum, Venice Italy

Selected Collections