Mathew Ollig
School, Year: Minneapolis College of art and Design, Junior
Major: Painting
Gamble Skogmo Fund Scholarship
What are you doing right now?
I’ve been experimenting a lot with RGB painting lately (using only red, green and blue paint in a dot technique to create images with seemingly multiple colors).
What makes you excited about painting?
I love being here at MCAD. I have truly discovered an environment where everyone is on a similar level — a community where I feel at home among my peers. We can have long debates about the differences between synthetic and natural paint brushes. You just can’t do that out in the larger community.
What is your dream job?
Painting. I’d love to eventually live and work as an artist in Europe.
What would you say to younger students making college decisions and planning their futures?
Look for a career you are passionate about. I grew up in Waverly, Minnesota, a town of less than 1,000 people. It was hardly the scene for a budding arts community, but I always knew I wanted to be an artist. I made the decision to leave my small town high school to attend the Perpich Center for Arts Education in Golden Valley. It was a great experience, but when I graduated I wasn’t ready for the commitments of college so I took some time off and went back when I knew I could take it seriously.
Who is the biggest influence in your life?
There were a couple of teachers at Perpich who were MCAD graduates that helped guide me in the right direction. Also, my grandparents are extremely supportive. They have invested their blind faith in my future and have been there for me financially as I complete my degree.
"...I always knew I wanted to be an artist."
——Mathew Ollig