Artist of the Month
August 2025
Matthew Fine
Matthew Fine is a studio artist based in Norfolk, Virginia. His work is inspired by the interaction and juxtaposition of hot cast glass and granite. Fine was raised on the oceanfront in Virginia Beach, and this relationship with sand and sea continues to inspire his work. Fine is represented by Okay Spark gallery in Norfolk, Virginia.
Click on each photo to the right for a full picture.
Stockley, 2020; 28 x 28 x 4 inches; cast glass and granite
Babbo Trio; 98 x 28 x 20 inches; stainless steel and cast glass
Polynya, 2025; 26 x 10 x 4 inches; cast glass and granite
Ice Bath, 2025; 26 x 24 x 5 inches; cast glass
Cartic, 2021; 18 x 8 x 4 inches; cast glass and granite
Kronos, 2024; 80 x 28 x 20 inches; stainless steel and cast glass
Saguenay, 2025; 34 x 14 x 4 inches; cast glass and granite
Pangolin, 2021; 24 x 8 x 4 inches; cast glass and granite
Unio, 2020; 110 x 40 x 14 inches; stainless steel and cast glass. In collaboration with Michael Szabo
And She Was, 2022; 86 x 28 x 18 inches; stainless steel and cast glass
And She Was, 2022; 86 x 28 x 18 inches; stainless steel and cast glass
Matthew Fine
Artist Statement:
When I was a freshman in college, I realized that not being academically gifted would significantly shape my future. Frustrated, I followed a friend's advice and enrolled in a sculpture class. Within less than a week, the professor saw my frustration working with clay and sent me out back with a hammer and chisel to work on a large block of stone. That moment I found my true place.
I quickly learned about my art-making impulses and decided to focus only on creating things that lit me up—things that excited, fulfilled, and challenged me. My process became a pursuit of continuous discovery, presenting me with more problems to solve than I ever imagined.
For over 40 years, I have followed the path where my art takes me. Object making still surprises and excites me. My process is stream-of-consciousness driven—a chain of events and decisions that lead to discovery. Discovering the piece in front of me, not the one I drew or dreamed of, but the one that emerged. I trust the process, the tools, and those moments of snap decision.
Art making has taught me to trust myself—an unexpected lesson for the 19-year-old, but a vital one for the 60-year-old. I see the spiritual journey that art offers as a necessary perspective. I know there is still so much to learn, and I am excited about the future.
My grandfather’s favorite quote: “Truth is beauty, beauty is truth.”
About Matthew Fine
Matthew Fine has led a multifaceted life. One constant has been producing sculpture. He has a national reputation for his cast glass and granite works. Recently, he has incorporated stainless steel into his work allowing him to create larger scale exterior works. Fine founded OKAY SPARK art gallery in Norfolk, VA. Since 2013, the gallery has been a fixture at art fairs, from SOFA to Palm Beach, LA, Seattle, and the Hamptons.
Fine is also a successful commercial real estate developer. He is presently third-generation president of his family's company, helping to manage and grow a portfolio that stretches through much of the Southeast.
Matt also has produced two feature films including one he wrote and directed, Art Show Bingo. Presently he and his brother have two projects in development.
He has served on many nonprofit boards including The Chrysler Museum of Art, Elizabeth River Project, Hope House Foundation, and Norfolk State University.
Acknowledgment of Gallery:
We are grateful to Okay Spark gallery, Norfolk, Virginia, for providing the Artist of the Month.
The Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass (AACG) is a not-for-profit organization and leading resource for glass collectors, art enthusiasts, artists, gallerists, museum personnel, and educators on all things related to glass art. AACG provides a collaborative place for robust conversations about glass art, including its production, techniques, and trends. We also encourage and support the glass community through annual grants and artist scholarships.
