Matt Lively is a local artist from Richmond, Virginia who is known for creating murals. He graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University, getting a Fine Arts degree along with his masters in education. Art teacher Rachel Principe has collaborated with Lively to give students a larger than life opportunity to paint a mural for all to see. 

“I hope students can see first hand how fun it is to make public art and also see that it is a possible path for themselves to pursue,” Lively said.

Lively discovered his passion for art through the movie Star Wars.

“It opened creative career possibilities for me. The movie was made mostly by kids using practical materials and low budget special effects with tools and materials found at a local hardware store,” Lively said.

Lively has been painting murals for 15 years. In those years he has made over 60 murals, which are easily recognizable, all around Richmond. Lively begins to explain why he gave students his opportunity.

“I would have loved the opportunity to work with a professional artist when I was in high school, so I like providing that opportunity now that I am one of those professional artists,” said Lively.

On April 7, a group of art students in Rachel Principe’s class from Clover Hill High School took a field trip with Lively to assist him in painting a mural.

The mural is located in Rockwood park, and students painted it with Lively, so they can always visit Rockwood Park and see something they created. Students left the school around 10:30 a.m. and they painted all the way until 5 p.m.

Lots of students begin to express their excitement about this large opportunity handed to them, especially painting with local artists. 

On March 5th, Lively came to Clover Hill High School and brainstormed with Principe’s art class. He let them work in small groups to think of different ideas, and after everyone shared their thoughts and different ideas, he said he was going to combine everyone’s ideas.

Junior Aubrey Trinite is one of the students planning on going, and she begins to exclaim her excitement.

“It’s a huge and exciting opportunity to be able to work with Matt Lively,” Trinite said. “I’m really excited to see what he comes up with for us to paint.”

In addition to Trinite’s thoughts, Sophomore Caio Mcconkey De Argolo was also involved with the field trip, and he expresses his joy.

“This is a really big opportunity, Matt is such a chill guy and he is amazing to work with,” said De Argolo. “I’m really excited to be able to expand my artistic and creative abilities somewhere out in public for everyone to see.”

Lively wishes to do this more in the future and work with other people.

“I hope to continue to work with others to make public art until I’m no longer here,” Lively said.

This is a wonderful and huge opportunity for art students to expand their creativity and have an amazing chance to work with such known artists to make something in the public for all to see.