Classic albums with a story to tell
Capturing beauty through detail and narrative in every painting.
Discover the Art of Matt Sparrow
About me
For over 15 years, I’ve been exploring the art of photorealistic painting, blending meticulous detail with storytelling to create scenes that feel alive. My work celebrates the beauty of everyday objects and the cultural moments they evoke, crafting narratives that connect the viewer to a sense of time, place, and meaning.
Music is a constant thread in my paintings. Inspired by iconic albums, I create still life compositions where the objects surrounding the record tell their own story. Whether it’s Blur’s Parklife evoking the charm of British café culture with a bacon sandwich and HP sauce, or The Specials’ debut album, which features a red telephone and a reel-to-reel tape recorder—a nod to the song Gangsters and its lyric, "Why do you record all my phone calls, are you planning a bootleg LP?"—my work captures the spirit of these records in vivid, tactile detail.
But my art isn’t limited to music. I also explore playful and unexpected narratives, such as a toy Stormtrooper searching for a lost character on a quintessentially British breakfast table. These pieces allow me to venture into new directions while staying true to my love of storytelling.
Each painting begins with a carefully curated still life, arranged to reflect the narrative I want to tell. Shot from dynamic angles, the scenes are designed to draw the viewer in, making the objects feel as though they’re emerging from the canvas. Using oil paint, I aim to achieve a level of realism that captures not just how things look, but how they feel—familiar, nostalgic, and deeply human.
Through my work, I hope to connect people to the moments, objects, and stories that resonate with them, blending art and culture in a way that sparks memory and conversation.
