A visual artist has put himself in the spotlight to create the winning poster design for the 2019 Adelaide Fringe.
Created by Warnambool painter Matthew Clarke, the poster is a self-portrait of himself as a Fringe performer.
Matthew, who identifies as having an intellectual disability, started creating art in 2005 and works with acrylic on linen.
“For me, painting is about wanting to express my happiness to others. I like using bold, bright colours so it attracts people and makes them feel happy about art,” he says. “I have a disability, so I’m quite proud to show there’s no barriers between that and making artwork.”
Artwork by Matthew Clarke
Adelaide Fringe Director and CEO Heather Croall said this year’s poster design was a move away from the graphic prints of recent years and a nod to some of the iconic Fringe posters created by painters in the past.
“We chose Matthew’s entry because of the striking, fiery brush strokes that convey a sense of risk-taking and adventure and the vibrant colours that encapsulate the energy of Fringe. It all comes together to create a stunning self-portrait of the artist putting on a Fringe show. We love the story behind the poster and the way it celebrates the performer in all of us,” Heather says.
