My work comprises a variety of media, but is founded on the idea of the history of the object or its recontextualized history. Found objects or videos, to me, bring a presence that I liken unto life experience to my art. That presence can be a juxtapositional ordering of chaotic matter, or the elevation of the mundane. These processes help me illustrate the mortal themes that confront me on a daily basis, themes such as self-worth, responsibility, agency and the use of limited materials with limitless potential.

Matthew David DeFord
Email: [email protected]
Daytime Phone:(318) 357-6560
Evening Phone: (318) 352-3932
Website: defordmatt.wix.com/mattdefordart
Education
M. F. A. 2004 Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
B. F. A. 2001 Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
A. F. A. 1998 Ricks College, Rexburg, Idaho
Teaching
2015-Present Department Chair, Department of Art, Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, Louisiana
Duties- oversee faculty, scheduling, NASAD Accrediting, finances, recruitment, facilities
2009-2015 Coordinator, Department of Art, Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, Louisiana
Duties- oversee faculty, scheduling, NASAD Accrediting, finances, recruitment, facilities
2005-present Professor (Tenured, 2010), Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, Louisiana
Teaching load- All levels (BFA and MA) of sculpture and ceramics, Professional Practice class, also have taught illustration courses
2002-2004 Instructor of Record, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
Teaching load- Sculpture I and 3D Design
Work Experience
2004 Gallery Supervisor, New Willard Gallery, KSU, Manhattan, Kansas
2002 Gallery Supervisor, Willard Gallery, KSU, Manhattan, Kansas
Select Art Exhibitions
2018 National Competition
“Tom Peyton Memorial Arts Festival,” First United Methodist Church, Alexandria, Louisiana
Group
“Combined Art Faculty Exhibit,” Gallery 111, Leesville, Louisiana
2016 National Competition
“Tom Peyton Memorial Arts Festival,” First United Methodist Church, Alexandria, Louisiana
2015 Invitational
“Fired Up: Ceramic Artists From Northwest Louisiana,” Donna Service Gallery, Bossier Parish Community College, Bossier City, Louisiana
“Faculty & Friends,” Alexandria Museum of Art, Alexandria, Louisiana
“Clay Heads,” Nicholls State University Gallery, Thibodaux, Louisiana
2014 International Group
“Utopia Project – part 2 Perception,” directed by Maureen Bachaus, Flux Factory, New York City, New York
Group
“Exploration,” Exhibition with Clyde Downs, Gallery 111, Leesville, Louisiana
2013 International Competition
“The International Videoart Festival of Camagüey,” Camagüey, Cuba
Group
“Abby Laux and Matt DeFord,” Artist’s Factory Gallery, Ferdinand, Indiana
“Painted Desert,” Gallery 111, Leesville, Louisiana
“The Guitar Project- Art for a Cause,” Alexandria Museum of Art, Alexandria, Louisiana
2012 International Competition
“Beau Jardin Call for Public Sculpture,” Beau Jardin park, Natchitoches, Louisiana
Group
“40 Artists Under 40,” Orville Hanchey Gallery, Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, Louisiana
2011 International Competition
“2011 Summer Juried Show,” Sylvia White Gallery, Ventura, California
“Pin Pals Exhibit: Art Benefit,” Gallery 5, Richmond, Virginia
“196,” The Shore Institute of the Contemporary Arts, Long Branch, New Jersey
“A Book About Death,” Willo North Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona
Group
“Reflections” Artworks from the collections of Scott Lykens and Tom Richard, University Gallery, University of Arkansas at Monticello, Monticello, Arkansas
Solo
“Ataraxis,” LSMSA Gallery, Natchitoches, Louisiana
“Recent Work,” Art Gallery, Louisiana College, Pineville, Louisiana
2010 International Competition
“2010 ULM Sculpture Garden Juried Exhibition,” ULM Sculpture Garden, University of Louisiana-Monroe, Monroe, Louisiana
“5th Annual Artist Trading Card Exhibit,” Richmond Art Gallery, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada
National Competition
“Fiber Options: Material Explorations,” Circle Gallery, Annapolis, Maryland
Regional Competition
“POP!: 50 Years of Bubblewrap,” ArtSpace, Shreveport, Louisiana
2009 International Competition
“7th Annual Color: Bold/Subtle Juried Online International Art Exhibition,” Upstream People Gallery, Omaha, Nebraska Special Recognition Award
“4th Annual Artist Trading Card Exhibit,” Richmond Art Gallery, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada
“2009 ULM Sculpture Garden Juried Exhibition,” ULM Sculpture Garden, University of Louisiana-Monroe, Monroe, Louisiana
Solo
“Connections,” University Gallery, Louisiana State University at Alexandria, Alexandria, Louisiana
2008 International Competition
“10th Annual Contemporary Art International Online Juried Art Exhibition,” Upstream People Gallery, Omaha, Nebraska Special Recognition Award
National Competition
“21st September Competition,” Alexandria Museum of Art, Alexandria, Louisiana
Solo
“Oscar on the Cane,” Gallery 2, Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, Louisiana
2007 Solo
“Mortal Importables,” Artspace, Shreveport, Louisiana
“Temporal Tug/ Released,” Morrison Institute of the Arts, Natchitoches, Louisiana
“Temporal Tug/ Released,” Multicultural Center, Shreveport, Louisiana
International Competition
“Art Interview 9th International Online Art Competion,” Art Interview Online Magazine, Berlin, Germany 3rd Place Award
“Art Interview 8th International Online Art Competition,” Art Interview Online Magazine, Berlin, Germany Honorable Mention
2006 National Competition
“Dangenart Emerging Artist Exhibit,” Dangenart Gallery, Nashville, Tennessee Representation Award
Regional Competition
“Art Melt 2006,” Forum 35, Shaw Center for the Arts, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
“No Dead Artists,” Jonathan Ferrara Gallery, New Orleans, Louisiana
2005 Solo
“Mortal Importables,” Orville J. Hanchey Gallery, Creative and Performing Arts Center, Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, Louisiana
“Released,” Natchitoches Parish Public Library, Natchitoches, Louisiana
2004 International Competition
“International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Design Exhibition”, Doubletree Hotel, Lloyd Center, Portland, Oregon
2003 National Competition
“12th National Juried Show” Art Center of Northern New Jersey, New Milford, New Jersey, Juror, Dana Miller, Associate Curator for Postwar Art at the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York City
“City of Farmington Office of Cultural Affairs and the Northwest New Mexico Arts Council National Juried Show 2003,” Farmington Museum at Gateway Park, Farmington, New Mexico, Juror, Sheila Rieman, artist
2002 Solo
“Released,” Swogger Gallery of the Columbian Theater, Wamego, Kansas, Director, Eric Abraham
“Shared,” Medicine Hat Museum and Art Gallery, Medicine Hat, Canada, Director, Joanne Marion
International Invitational
“Upstream People’s Gallery Invitational,” Upstream People’s Gallery, Omaha, Nebraska
“All Media IV International Invitational Art Exhibition,” Period Gallery, Omaha Nebraska
2001 Solo
“Released,” Medicine Hat Cultural Centre, Medicine Hat, Canada. Director, Alan Jensen
International Invitational
“Small Works National, All Media Invitational 2001,” Period Gallery, Omaha, Nebraska
“All Media III International Invitational Art Exhibition,” Period Gallery, Omaha, Nebraska
Regional Competition
“Provo Freedom Festival Art Exhibition,” B.F. Larson Gallery, Provo, Utah, Jurors: Bethanne Andersen, Gary Price, and Robert Marshall, Director, Katherine S. Allen, Executive Director, Provo Arts Council Honorable Mention
2000 International Competition
“Winterfest 2000,” Period Gallery, Omaha, Nebraska, Juror: Larry Bradshaw, Professor of Art, University of Nebraska
Permanent Public Exhibits
“Saint Peregrine and Saint Anthony Mosaic,” ceramic and glass mosaic, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Moreauville, Louisiana
“Tom Peyton Memorial Arts Festival Logo,” bronze, First United Methodist Church, Alexandria, Louisiana
“Flora and Fauna,” ceramic mosaic, Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, Louisiana
“Meandering on the Cane” art the Beau Jardin park, Natchitoches, Louisiana
“Released” at the Natchitoches Parish Public Library, Natchitoches, Louisiana
“Released” at the Good Samaritan Society Assisted Living Center, Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
Movie Props
2008 Created ceramic props for Harold Ramis movie “Year One”
Juried Exhibitions Organized
2015 “2nd Annual 45 Second Video Art Show,” Organized exhibition of video art work 45 seconds or less
2014 “1st Annual 45 Second Video Art Show,” Organized exhibition of video art work 45 seconds or less
Workshops Taught
2018 Caricatures, Louisiana Chapter of Youth Art Council of America Association Annual Conference, Woodworth, Louisiana
2013 Collage Buttons, Louisiana Chapter of Youth Art Council of America Association Annual Conference, Woodworth, Louisiana
2011 Wire Work, Louisiana Artist Educators Association Annual Conference, Woodworth, Louisiana
2009 Wire Portraiture, Louisiana Artist Educators Association Annual Conference, Natchitoches, Louisiana
2008 Lost Wax Workshop, River Oaks Art Center, Alexandria, Louisiana
2006 “Natchitoches Parish Public Library Literary Sculpture Workshop,” Natchitoches, Louisiana
Presentations
2015 “Navigating the Cane,” Lesche Club, Natchitoches, Louisiana
“Less is More: Audio-Visual Art in Under Six Seconds,” with Dr. Samuel Stokes, 28th Annual Research Day, Northwestern State University
2012 “How to Keep Art Fresh,” Louisiana Studies Conference, Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, Louisiana
2011 “Keeping Your Art Fresh,” River Oaks Art Center, Alexandria, Louisiana
2009 “Navigating the Cane,” Louisiana Studies Conference, Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, Louisiana
2008 “Navigating the Cane: Exploring Natchitoches’ Primary Waterway” Society for Heritage Resources, Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, Louisiana
2006 “Bronze Casting” Lion’s Club, Natchitoches, Louisiana
Workshops Attended
2013 “NASAD Annual Meeting” Grand Hyatt, St. Louis, Missouri
2011 “NASAD Annual Meeting” Grand Hyatt, Seattle, Washington
“NASAD Pre-Meeting Workshop for New or Aspiring Art Administrators” Grand Hyatt, Seattle, Washington
2009 “Creative Capital Professional Development Weekend Retreat” Louisiana Division for the Arts, Shaw Center for the Arts, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
2008 “Surface Enrichment and Working in Earthenware” Instructor: Ron Meyers, Archie Bray Foundation, Helena, Montana
Juror
2018 “39th Annual Contemporary Artists’ Guild of Central Louisiana Show,” Alexandria Museum of Art, Alexandria, Louisiana
“Artbreak,” Artspace, Shreveport, Louisiana
2017 “Artbreak,” Artspace, Shreveport, Louisiana
2013 “Digifest South Juried Exhibition,” Bossier Civic Center, Bossier City, Louisiana
2010 “4th Annual Juried Exhibition,” Art Associates of Lake Charles Gallery, Lake Charles, Louisiana
2008 “Artbreak,” Artspace, Shreveport, Louisiana
2007 “Artbreak,” Artspace, Shreveport, Louisiana
2006 “Artbreak,” Artspace, Shreveport, Louisiana
“Hoover Watercolor Society Exhibit,” East Bank Gallery, Bossier City, Louisiana
2005 “Shreveport Art Club Annual Exhibit,” Louisiana State Museum, Shreveport, Louisiana
References
Leslie Gregory Gruesbeck
Associate Professor of Art
Gallery Director
Creative and Performing Arts
Northwestern State University
140 Central Avenue
Natchitoches, Louisiana 71497
[email protected]
(318) 357 5476

Dr. Shane Rasmussen
Director, Louisiana Folklife Center
Associate Professor of English
Northwestern State University
NSU Box 4081
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-4332
[email protected]

William Brent
Former Director, School of Creative and Performing Arts
Emeritus Associate Professor of Music
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-5885
[email protected]

http://defordmatt.wix.com/mattdefordart

Kansas State University

2004