Matthew Watkins’ practice in live digital painting grew out of his early work as one of the pioneers of mobile digital art. His exhibitions introduced audiences to expressive finger-painted works created on digital devices, with subjects ranging from noir and political satire to vivid fantasy worlds.
Over time, this work expanded into live performance. Watkins creates visual sessions both solo and collaboratively, painting in real time in response to live or recorded music, dance, prose and poetry. These performances transform drawing into an unfolding event, where image, rhythm, gesture and atmosphere develop together before an audience.
His live work has appeared in cultural events, festivals and public presentations, often combining projection, improvisation and digital tools to create immediate, site-responsive visual experiences. Alongside performance, his exhibition history remains an important part of his development, marking the point where drawing, technology and public presentation first came together in his practice.
For performance proposals, collaborations or exhibition enquiries, please get in touch.
Recent Performances
• Viva Rizzoli | Digital Painting Installation | Lacco Ameno, Ischia | 2025
• Bang Awards Festival | Torres Vedras Portugal | 2022
• PIDA – Premio Internazionale Ischia di Architettura | With Jean Micehele Byron (Toto) | Forio | 2024
• Bang Awards Festival | Torres Vedras Portugal | 2024
• Omaggio a Nico Drake con Emanuele Belloni | Ischia | 2023
• Bang Awards Festival | Torres Vedras Portugal | 2022
• La Fanoje | Capurso Bari | 2021
• Fingerpainting with Resextensa | Piazze di Puglia | 2019
• Antica commedia greca di Aristofane | 2018
• Alberobello International Light Festival | September 2017
• Festival di illustrazione e dintorni | MAT Terlizzi | July 2017
• Luci Versi e Musiche nelle Gnostre | Live Light Painting | Noci | December 2016
• Come un Barone Rampante | Ischia | September 2016
• Alberobello International Light Festival | Live Light Painting | August 2016
• TEDx Bari | Performer / Speaker | Teatro Margherita, Bari, Italy | October 2015
• World Press Photo | Live Light Painting | Teatro Margherita, Bari, Italy | September 2015
• Festival della Luce | Alberobello | July 2015
• PIDA – Premio Internazionale Ischia di Architettura | Live painting St Anna | Ischia | July 2014
• Con i miei Occhi – Frammenti di connessioni | Bari May 2014
• Dancing with the Orange Dog | Manchester, England | February 2013
• Fingerpainting per la riqualificazione urbana | Bari | February 2013
• International Automotive Dealer Day | Live fingerpainting | Fiera di Verona, Verona | May 2012
• Live fingerpainting for Simonetta | Pitti Kids, Firenze | June 2011
Selected Individual Exhibitions
• Digital Cities: Explorations of Matthew Watkins | Palazzo Gran Guardia | Verona 2014
• Uncontainable Art | Museum of Natural Science, Verona | March 2013
• Fingerpaintings | Aluminij Gallery | Mostar, Bosnia and Erzegovina | June 2011
• Fingerpaintings | Sala Murat, Bari | June 2011
• l’Arte ai tempi dell’iPhone | C&C Consulting, Bari | September 2009
Selected Group Exhibitions
• Imaginarium | Collaborative multimedia art progect | Leeds, England | February 2016
• Under the bed | Leeds, England | 2016
• Fairytale Lab | Leeds, England | 2015
• Biennale d’Arte contemporanea “Rocco Dicillo” | Winner, digital artTriggiano, Bari, Italy | July 2014
• Dancing with the Orange Dog | Manchester, England | 2013
• LA Mobile Arts Festiva l Los Angeles | 2012
• Stylectrical | MK&G Hamburg, Germany | 2011
• Future/Canvas2 San Francisco | 2011
• The Digital Canvas | San Francisco | 2011
• Future/Canvas San Francisco | 2010
• Illuminated Touch | New York | 2010
• A Healing Touch: “Digital Offerings of Peace to Women Survivors” | Washington DC | 2010
• The World At Our Fingertips | Algoma | 2010
• iPhone Wherefore Art Thou | Windsor Art Center, CT | 2010
• Pocket Art Fest2 | Winner Grand Prix pocket photography | Mostar | 2010
• iPhone therefore Art | Chicago Art Department | 2010
