Matt King (artist)

Matthew Warren King (September 6, 1984 – July 9, 2022) was an American artist and co-founder of Meow Wolf, where he worked as senior vice president of creative direction until his death in July 2022.[2][3] A native of Arlington, Texas, King was based in Santa Fe, New Mexico.[4][5][6][7]

For other people named Matthew King, see Matthew King (disambiguation).

Matt King
Born
Matthew Warren King

September 6, 1984 (1984-09-06)[1]
Arlington, Texas, U.S.
DiedJuly 9, 2022(2022-07-09) (aged 37)
Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Known forImmersive art installations
Notable workHouse of Eternal Return, Omega Mart, Meow Wolf

Early life
"Glowquarium" at Meow Wolf, House of Eternal Return
Detail of Fancy Town at Meow Wolf, House of Eternal Return

King was born on 6 September 1984, to Mitzi King and Randy King, and was raised in Arlington, Texas. King attended high school and junior college before deciding that college was not right for him. Before co-founding Meow Wolf, he worked as an art handler, landscaper and food delivery person.[2]

Career

King began his career as a painter, and when living in Texas he taught outdoor education to grade-school children in Dallas-Fort Worth, and had plans to open a summer camp. In addition to his work as a visual artist, King was also a multi-instrumentalist musician. He moved to Santa Fe in 2007. In 2008, he created his first immersive artwork, Meowzors, with other artists in the collective.[7][8]

King has been described as a "self-educated philosopher who studies hermeticism and wanted to bring people together with his art."[2]

King was part of the collaborative team of artists that launched Meow Wolf in 2008.[3] He developed or co-developed 34 Meow Wolf projects including House of Eternal Return in Santa Fe and Omega Mart in Las Vegas,[7] as well as being the lead artist on The Cathedral at Meow Wolf Denver.[3][9] He was a lead artist on many interactive artworks including the Glowquarium installation and the Fancy Town at the House of Eternal Return.[9] The Fancy Town installation doubles as an event venue, and has the appearance of an Old West ghost town made of recycled scrap wood and construction waste. King described it as “Turning your capitalistic trash into freedom of expression.” King constructed the surrounding walls to have the appearance of old storefronts.[10]

Meow Wolf
Main article: Meow Wolf

King participated in the first meeting of the Meow Wolf art collective in 2008. During the early years, King and his collaborators created surreal and futuristic immersive art environments, and hosted music shows and events. In 2015, George R. R. Martin pledged $2.7 million dollars for a long-term lease and renovation of a vacant bowling alley in Santa Fe for the collective to develop a permanent interactive museum.[11] By 2022, the company had grown to 980 employees, with a revenue of $158 million, and had served more than 1.5 million visitors. King was involved with over 34 Meow Wolf projects, many as the lead artist.[6][2] Meow Wolf had announced, in May 2022, two new permanent interactive exhibition spaces in Houston and Grapevine.[12][13]

Death

Matt King died by suicide in Santa Fe on July 9, 2022, at age 37.[2] He was survived by his fiancée, Meow Wolf colleague Han Santana-Sayles, his mother, and a brother.[2]

References
  1. "Matthew W. King". Ancestry: U.S. Index to Public Records, 1994–2019. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  2. Hagerty, James (July 21, 2022). "Matt King, Co-Founder of Meow Wolf's Immersive Art Experiences, Dies at Age 37". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  3. Ricciardi, Tiney (July 12, 2022). "Meow Wolf co-founder Matt King, who was instrumental in Denver location, has died". Denver Post. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  4. De Vore, Alex (July 12, 2022). "Meow Wolf Co-Founder Matt King Has Died". Santa Fe Reporter. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  5. Adams, Abagail (July 12, 2022). "Matt King, Co-Founder of Popular Art Experience Meow Wolf, Dies at 37: 'Community Is Devastated'". People Magazine. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  6. Batycka, Dorian (July 12, 2022). "Matt King, Artist and Visionary Cofounder of Immersive Art Giant Meow Wolf, Has Died at 37". ArtNet News. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  7. Katsilometes, John (July 11, 2022). "Meow Wolf, Omega Mart founder Matt King dies". Las Vegas Review Journal. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  8. Vitu, Teya (July 12, 2022). "Meow Wolf co-founder remembered as visionary". Santa Fe New Mexican. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  9. "Matt King". Meow Wolf. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  10. Wharton, David (February 23, 2016). "Great Read: Art collective builds a dream house in Santa Fe with millions of dollars and junk". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  11. Monroe, Rachel (February 11, 2015). "How George RR Martin is helping stem Santa Fe's youth exodus". The Guardian. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  12. DeVore, Alex (May 11, 2022). "Meow Wolf Announces Two New Texas Locations". Santa Fe Reporter. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  13. "Meow Wolf is adding two new locations by 2024 — including one inside a suburban mall". The Denver Post. May 11, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
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