Matt Donovan is an artist, industrial designer, and conservator of kinetic artworks. He graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design and has since worked as an industrial designer for artists. Formally trained in Fine Arts, but with an instinctive understanding of engineering, he has built a career in which design and art are inseparable. Aside from the History Machines collaboration with Hallie, highlights from Matt’s art career include the mechanical design of Max Dean’s and Raffaello D’Andrea’s The Table and collaboration with Max Dean and Raffaello D’Andrea on The Robotic Chair. Projects to which he has contributed have exhibited at the National Gallery of Canada, and the Venice Biennale. He has exhibited at ARS Electronica, ARCO art fair, Luminato Festival, and the Olga Korper Gallery.
Education
Ontario College of Art and Design – Diploma: Sculpture and Installation. 1999.
Appointments
ETH Zürich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), Institute of Dynamic Systems and Control. Artist in Residence, 2007-2009.
Fellowships, Awards & Grants
IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation – Best Conference Paper Award Finalist, 2010.
Yale University – Tetelman Fellow, 2008.
Prix Ars Electronica – Honorary Mention: The Robotic Chair, 2006.
Ontario Arts Council – Grant to Visual Artist, 2005.
Canada Council for the Arts – New Media Production Grant, 2000.
Speaking Engagements, Invited Lectures, Panels & Juries
Ontario College of Art and Design, Toronto – Toolbox Panel Member, 2011.
Ontario College of Art and Design, Toronto – Guest Lecturer, 2011.
Ontario College of Art and Design, Toronto – Smartcar Student Competition Jury Member, 2011.
DIY Kunst & Technologiefestival, Zürich – Jury Member, 2008.
Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut – Tetelman Lecturer, 2008.
Ontario College of Art and Design, Toronto – Guest Lecturer, 2007.
ideaCity, Toronto – Co-Presenter, 2006.
Ontario College of Art and Design, Toronto – Guest Lecturer, 2006.
Teaching
ETH Zürich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), Institute of Dynamic Systems and Control.
Project Class Co-Instructor, 2007-2009.
Exhibition Record
History Machines (Matt Donovan, Hallie Siegel)
Toronto International Art Fair, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, Canada. October 28 – 31, 2011. With the Olga Korper Gallery.
Olga Korper Gallery, Toronto, Canada. March 31, 2011 – April 23, 2011. Solo exhibition.
Niagara Artists Centre, St. Catharines, Canada. March 9 – June 4, 2011. Group exhibition.
MacLaren Art Centre, Barrie, Canada. September 10 – November 1, 2009. Group exhibition curated by Sandra Fraser.
Toronto International Art Fair, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, Canada. October 2 – 5, 2008. With the Olga Korper Gallery.
World Washi Summit, Toronto, Canada. June 7-15, 2008. By invitation.
Olga Korper Gallery, Toronto, Canada. March 2007-April 2007. Solo exhibition.
The Latcham Gallery, Stouffville, Canada. 2005. Juried exhibition.
Robotic Chair (Max Dean, Raffaello D’Andrea, Matt Donovan)
Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery, Red Deer, Canada. February 8 – April 11, 2010.
Cabaret Voltaire, Zurich, Switzerland. March 6-15, 2009.
London Art Fair, London England. January 14-18, 2009.
Ottawa Art Gallery, Ottawa, Canada. November 18, 2008.
National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, Canada. October – December, 2008.
Flowers East, London, England. August 1 – September 13, 2008.
Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver, Canada. June 12 – August 24, 2008.
Elektra, Montreal, Canada. May 7-11, 2008.
Mois Multi 9, Quebec City, Canada. February 13-24 2008.
Yale School of Art, Yale University, New Haven, USA. January 24, 2008.
Open Spaces, Toronto International Art Fair (with Nicholas Metivier Gallery), Canada. October 25-29, 2007.
Waterloo Regional Children’s Museum (with Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery), Kitchener, Canada. September 20, 2007 – January 6, 2008.
Nicholas Metivier Gallery, Toronto, Canada. September 8, 2007.
Luminato Festival, Toronto, Canada. June 1-10, 2007.
Canadian Museums Association Conference, Ottawa, Canada. March 28-30, 2007.
International Contemporary Art Fair of Madrid (ARCO), with Nicholas Metivier Gallery, Spain. February 16-19 2007.
Ars Electronica, Linz, Austria. September 1- October 8, 2006.
ideaCity, Toronto, Canada. June, 2006.
Collections
Tom Thompson Gallery Permanent Collection
Boy with Parka, 2011.
The Donovan Collection, University of St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto, Canada.
Boy with Parachute, 2011.
Original Six (Air), 2007.
Original Six (Star), 2007.
Original Six (Like), 2007.
Original Six (With), 2007.
National Gallery of Canada Permanent Collection, Ottawa, Canada.
Robotic Chair, 2006.
Philbrook Museum Outdoor Sculpture Collection, Tulsa, USA.
Black Sheep, 1999.
Various private collections in Toronto and Ottawa
Selected Press, Citations, Books and Catalogues
History Machines (Matt Donovan, Hallie Siegel)
ArtSync 2010-2011 Catalogue, eds. Juni C. Birol & Heather White. 2011.
“See-Worthy Visuals.” where ESSENTIAL Toronto, 2011-2012, by Craig Moy.
“Opening: Matt Donovan & Hallie Siegel.” ArtSync TV, interview by Michael Hansen. Aired April 8, 2011.
“Must-see shows.” NOW Magazine. April 7 – 14, 2011. VOL 30, NO 32.
The Donovan Collection. University of St. Michael’s College, 2010; ISBN 978-0-7727-1003-1. April, 2010.
“Art on Campus: Haikube Woodcut Poems.” St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto Alumni Magazine. VOL 48, NO 2, Fall 2009.
“Alumni Profile: Elephants & Robotic Chairs: Matt Donovan’s Intuitive Fabrications.” Ontario College of Art & Design Alumni News. McLennan, Leanna. October 29, 2009.
“OCAD: The Interplay of Art & Technology.” Ottawa Life Magazine, Cornforth, Rob. January 14, 2009.
World Washi Summit 2008 Catalogue, World Washi Summit. June, 2008.
“Gallery Going.” Globe & Mail, Dault, Gary Michael. April 21, 2007.
“A New Kind of Cubism.” Toronto Star, Staff Writer. March 29, 2007.
Haikube. Book Thug, 2006, Betts, Gregory (with Matt Donovan and Hallie Siegel); ISBN-10: 0973974249. May 1, 2006.
Robotic Chair (Max Dean, Raffaello D’Andrea, Matt Donovan)
“Robotic Chair – mehr als Kunst.” Zurich.Minds Handelszeitung, Staff Writer. March 2009.
“Roboter-Stuhl aus Zürich kostet eine Viertelmillion Dollar.” Zurich Tages Anzeiger, Castelberg, Regina, Weber, Roman. December 12, 2008.
“Please Wait to be Seated.” New Haven Register, Staff Writer. January 25, 2008.
“The Robotic Chair Controls its Destiny.” Yale Daily News, Wessel, Nora. January 24, 2008.
“Art and Engineering Construct a Self-Destructive Chair.” Yale Office of Public Affairs. January 23, 2008.
“The Robotic Chair.” The Children’s Museum and the Kitchener–Waterloo Art Gallery Exhibit Introduction, Ferguson, Bruce. September 2007.
“The Certainty of Machines: An Interview with Max Dean.” Border Crossing Magazine, Enright, Robert. March 2007.
“Robotic Chair Falls Apart, Reassembles Itself Autonomously.” Science Daily, Staff Writer. October 20, 2006.
“The Chair that Builds Itself.” (Video) Daily Planet, Discovery Channel. September 2006.
Other Works (Matt Donovan)
“The Elephant House”. Wikipedia.org. November, 2008.
“Home on the Strange: Odd Abodes Celebrated”. National Post, A10, Bielski, Zosia. August 12, 2006.
Utopia. The State of the Arts: Living with Culture in Toronto, 2006, Vol. 2, 150, Coach House Press, Wilcox, I., Palassio, C., Dovercourt, J; ISBN-10: 155245178X. November 30, 2005.
“Art by the Yard.” Toronto Star, J1, Harries, Kate. May 6, 2004.
“Who Needs a Speedbump When You’ve Got a White Elephant?” Globe & Mail, M3, Roberts, Siobhan. February 7, 2004.