Mat Van Dongen

Mat Van Dongen (b. 2001) is a Bay Area artist who joined NIAD Art Center in 2023. His practice includes graphic geometric paintings and hand-built ceramic vessels that reference items from domestic spaces. Recently Van Dongen embarked on a series of works inspired by the storied lives and music of The Beatles. “I’d like to put on a festival to celebrate The Beatles and all the instruments they played.” Van Dongen shares, “It’s good to take the time to appreciate their music. I made this painting of The Beatles and I thought, ‘this is something I’d like to see on a record cover.’” 

Mat Van Dongen’s paintings were featured in the group exhibition, Now Presenting: New Artists of NIAD in the Main Gallery at NIAD Art Center.

I made this painting of The Beatles. In the early 60s they came to America, and then Paul joined the band Wings. He was an inspired person and he had a big hit with Wings. Some hits we don't hear anymore, but Paul, he was a very thoughtful Beatle at the time. From any album you look at in the 60s, this is the one you gotta check out. Paul was inducted into Wings when they had a lot of hits and he said, "Let's just make one record" and I thought, "This is something I'd like to see on that record cover, this painting."

I’d like to put on a music event -- a festival to celebrate The Beatles and all the instruments they played. It’s good to take the time to appreciate their music and the music we can make out here.