Motherland

Matt Byrd spent most of his life working as a traditionally trained stonemason. Learning the fundamental rules of the trade early on as an apprentice, he began to apply these techniques to his own sculpture work, creating unexpected forms and interconnected shapes that take on a style all of his own. By still using the same tools of the trade he began with, often simple ones from his local hardware store, Byrd is able to think more creatively about his designs and dive deeper into his origins of stonemasonry as it directly relates to his process and connection to the materials. After spending years moving around the US in constant search for inspiration, it wasn’t until he returned to his hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina, that he found what he was looking for - clarity. In producing this collection, he could call on friends, family, and neighbors to help source local materials and keep everything about the work close to home, realizing that “Motherland” was there all along. The collection results from years of work for Byrd, “Up until recently, I felt like I wasn't ready to take on more functional objects. I wanted to make sure that I was making lighting, stools, and tables in a way that felt appropriate with the evolution of my work.” he says. Having spent so much time working on complicated shapes, he found comfort in creating simpler forms from such a violent and messy process. Made completely by hand, without using any automated tools, he was able to give the work an approachable feel. With “Motherland”, Byrd aims to represent his origins and pay homage to the place that not only raised him, but helped him define the visual language of his work. The collection features new solid granite sculptures, which Byrd has become known for, along with new wall hanging works and functional stone objects, including lamps and tables.