Matte Rochford is an artist from Dulwich Hill in Sydney’s outer inner-West who works with performance and installation, particularly focusing on the medium of VHS videotape. He has studied Communications at the University of Technology, Sydney, and performance and theatre making at PACT Centre for Emerging Artists.
His first gallery showings were in 2007 at Greg Shapley’s Don’t Look Gallery in Dulwich Hill, a space for experimental new media work that nurtured artists who didn’t necessarily think of themselves as artists. He also helped found the 2203 Collective with other local artists, curating exhibitions and exploring community art-making.
He has gone on to show both static work and performances in galleries including; Mori Gallery, Artspace, 55 Sydenham Rd, Peloton, Serial Space, Home at 735, Verge Gallery and Kudos Gallery. His performances have also been seen at Performance Space, PACT, The Red Rattler and at festivals and warehouse venues.. In 2015 his work Progressively Degrading Test Pattern was included in the ‘Technologisms’ survey show at Monash University Museum of Art in Melbourne alongside work by Nam June Paik and Christopher Burden. He has worked on projects by artists Tino Sehgal and Marina Abramovic.
Matte works in the public education system at primary school level and has hosted community art workshops with Penrith City and Auburn councils.
As part of sibling trio ‘The Rochfords’, Matte sometimes shows work with artist sisters Greer and Julia.
Matte is a member of the socialist group Solidarity and a singer in the band Ex-Trendy.
