About the Author...
Matt Tommey has spent over twenty years cultivating a successful creative career as a visual artist, musician, author and creative catalyst for artists. Since the age of five, Matt has been singing, playing the piano, leading bands and writing music. His passion for music and creativity led him into a career in creative ministry within various churches where he served as a worship and arts pastor. It was there that he began to understand the deep connection between spirituality and thriving as an artist.
In 2003, Matt took a break from his ministry pursuits and founded a boutique creative agency in metro Atlanta, working primarily with small businesses and nonprofit organizations as their outsourced marketing department. After a few years, the company expanded regionally and started working with larger clients on projects including branding, collateral design, web design, printing and marketing strategy. After closing his company in Atlanta, Matt worked for Marketstar/Cisco Systems in sales and marketing, developing an inside sales strategy that won the International GameChanger award for sales strategy innovation. Additionally, he worked as Director of Marketing for MinistryBox, a national ministry management software company where he re-branded and launched the company nationally.
While a student at the University of Georgia in the mid-1990’s, Matt found a book on willow basketmaking and began experimenting with the use of kudzu and other natural materials in basketry. This hobby soon became a passion for Matt, providing a vehicle where he could not only connect spiritually in nature but release more of the creative passion that lay inside his heart. Now Matt pursues his passion for sculptural art basketry using natural materials as a full-time artist at his studio in Asheville, North Carolina’s River Arts District.
In 2009 everything started coming together for Matt. Disparate parts that seemed unconnected converged in a supernatural spiritual experience where Matt realized that he was created to be a father to creative people and was called to raise up an army of artists to reveal God’s Glory. Through this experience, Matt founded The Worship Studio, a nonprofit organization who’s focus is to be an equipping resource for artists, a hub for creative communities and a catalyst for creativity around the world. The Worship Studio hosts multiple conferences a year for creative people to explore the connection between their faith and creativity.
Soon after founding The Worship Studio, Matt wrote “Unlocking the Heart of the Artist” which is now used around the world by artists of every creative medium to overcome roadblocks to creativity, break the starving artist curse and thrive as an artist. The passion of Matt’s heart is to help artists live the life of abundance, joy and creativity they were created to live.
Matt now lives in Asheville, North Carolina with his wife Tanya and their son, Cameron. He works as a full-time contemporary basketry artist, worship arts pastor and Executive Director of The Worship Studio. In addition to his work, Matt is privileged to serve in many influential volunteer capacities within the creative community including Vice President of the National Basketry Organization and Marketing Chair for the River Arts District Artists in Asheville, NC. Matt is also a popular basketry teacher, leading classes and workshops at the John C. Campbell Folk School and the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. He is a member of the prestigious Southern Highland Craft Guild and Piedmont Craftsmen. In 2010 he was included in the “American Artist Under 40” registry by the Smithsonian’s American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery. In 2011 he was awarded the “Festival Commissioners Award for the Most Innovative Design” at the International Wickerwork Festival in Nowy Tomysl, Poland.
Matt Tommey has spent over twenty years cultivating a successful creative career as a visual artist, musician, author and creative catalyst for artists. Since the age of five, Matt has been singing, playing the piano, leading bands and writing music. His passion for music and creativity led him into a career in creative ministry within various churches where he served as a worship and arts pastor. It was there that he began to understand the deep connection between spirituality and thriving as an artist.
In 2003, Matt took a break from his ministry pursuits and founded a boutique creative agency in metro Atlanta, working primarily with small businesses and nonprofit organizations as their outsourced marketing department. After a few years, the company expanded regionally and started working with larger clients on projects including branding, collateral design, web design, printing and marketing strategy. After closing his company in Atlanta, Matt worked for Marketstar/Cisco Systems in sales and marketing, developing an inside sales strategy that won the International GameChanger award for sales strategy innovation. Additionally, he worked as Director of Marketing for MinistryBox, a national ministry management software company where he re-branded and launched the company nationally.
While a student at the University of Georgia in the mid-1990’s, Matt found a book on willow basketmaking and began experimenting with the use of kudzu and other natural materials in basketry. This hobby soon became a passion for Matt, providing a vehicle where he could not only connect spiritually in nature but release more of the creative passion that lay inside his heart. Now Matt pursues his passion for sculptural art basketry using natural materials as a full-time artist at his studio in Asheville, North Carolina’s River Arts District.
In 2009 everything started coming together for Matt. Disparate parts that seemed unconnected converged in a supernatural spiritual experience where Matt realized that he was created to be a father to creative people and was called to raise up an army of artists to reveal God’s Glory. Through this experience, Matt founded The Worship Studio, a nonprofit organization who’s focus is to be an equipping resource for artists, a hub for creative communities and a catalyst for creativity around the world. The Worship Studio hosts multiple conferences a year for creative people to explore the connection between their faith and creativity.
Soon after founding The Worship Studio, Matt wrote “Unlocking the Heart of the Artist” which is now used around the world by artists of every creative medium to overcome roadblocks to creativity, break the starving artist curse and thrive as an artist. The passion of Matt’s heart is to help artists live the life of abundance, joy and creativity they were created to live.
Matt now lives in Asheville, North Carolina with his wife Tanya and their son, Cameron. He works as a full-time contemporary basketry artist, worship arts pastor and Executive Director of The Worship Studio. In addition to his work, Matt is privileged to serve in many influential volunteer capacities within the creative community including Vice President of the National Basketry Organization and Marketing Chair for the River Arts District Artists in Asheville, NC. Matt is also a popular basketry teacher, leading classes and workshops at the John C. Campbell Folk School and the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. He is a member of the prestigious Southern Highland Craft Guild and Piedmont Craftsmen. In 2010 he was included in the “American Artist Under 40” registry by the Smithsonian’s American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery. In 2011 he was awarded the “Festival Commissioners Award for the Most Innovative Design” at the International Wickerwork Festival in Nowy Tomysl, Poland.
