Matthew Burke

Matthew Burke teaches sculpture, drawing, woodworking and themes in art and ecology. His teaching and studio practice revolve around creative engagement with habitat and community. Before joining the faculty at the University of Southern Maine, he developed the Art + Ecology program at the University of Kansas that enabled students to study environmental issues and topics through combined creative practice and critical inquiry. While at KU, he held a dual appointment in Visual Art and Environmental Studies and he also served as department Chair. His teaching is deeply influenced by the work of Rudolf Stiener and the Waldorf school movement. He is a member of the New Perennial Project, a creative ecology collective associated with The Land Institute in Salina, Kansas. Matt’s creative works span a range of materials and interests. Through constructed objects, outdoor installations, and interactive works, he seeks to direct attention to the inherent interconnectedness among the world. Recent projects include, The Sun Hive Project, a collaborative effort with his Sustainable Art class that furnished beehives for local Kansas farmers; and the Neighborhood Pocket Libraries Project, which utilized reclaimed lumber to produce small libraries sited in residential neighborhoods. In June 2017, he exhibited When We Hear Water, at the Salina Art Center, which focused on the expansive sound of falling water. Matt received his B.A. from Colby College and his M.F.A. in Sculpture from Queens College, C.U.N.Y. He has had numerous solo and group shows including, PS1 MoMA in Queens, NY, the Hopper House Art Center in Nyack, NY, the Brooklyn Museum of Art in NY, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, among others. His work is in several museums and collections including, the Museum of Modern Art Library, the Brooklyn Museum of Art, and the Cleveland Institute of Art Library. He lives in Topsham, Maine with his wife, Melissa and son, Angus and is grateful for the many wonderful people in his life.