Matthias Lupri: Discovering a New Language Through Paint
The transition from jazz to painting was not a sudden decision but a gradual realization that his artistic essence needed a new outlet. After stepping away from music, Lupri explored various creative disciplines, but none provided the depth and visceral connection he longed for. It wasn’t until he started painting that he recognized the same sense of immediacy and emotional intensity he once found in performance. The moment he switched from brushes to palette knives, he discovered a raw, physical approach to painting that felt natural and instinctive.
In the early days of his career as a painter, Lupri focused on simply getting his work out into the world. He exhibited in Boston, entering galleries and shows wherever possible, allowing his art to speak for itself. As his distinctive style developed, his paintings began to resonate with collectors, leading to international sales and recognition. Over the past eight years, he has firmly established himself as a professional artist, proving that reinvention is not just possible but essential for creative growth.
Lupri’s approach to painting mirrors his background in jazz—spontaneous, fluid, and deeply rooted in personal expression. He embraces the unpredictability of each piece, letting intuition guide his movements rather than following rigid structures. Just as a musician trusts the flow of improvisation, he trusts the act of painting to reveal its own story. This philosophy has allowed him to carve out a space in the contemporary art world that is uniquely his own, blending abstraction with introspection in a way that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant.
Semblance Three Moons
Oil on canvas, 120 x 72 in.
2023 | LUPRI
Navigating the Unconscious: Themes and Influences in Lupri’s Work
Lupri’s artistic style defies strict categorization, drawing from Abstract Expressionism while incorporating elements of Impressionism, Minimalism, and architectural abstraction. His paintings shift between pure abstraction and figurative elements, exploring landscapes, cityscapes, and dreamlike imagery. What unites these varying themes is his technique—loose, gestural, and rich with texture, creating a dynamic interplay between control and chaos. His process is intuitive, responding to both his internal world and the unconscious energies that surface during creation.
One of Lupri’s most significant influences is Carl Jung, whose theories on the collective unconscious and archetypal symbolism deeply resonate with his artistic philosophy. Without initially realizing it, Lupri had been channeling similar ideas in his work, using mythology and subconscious imagery to construct visual narratives. His paintings often explore themes of balance, duality, and the unseen forces that shape human experience. In his 2015 piece Daemons of Inner Primordial Mirror (72×48”), he examines these concepts through an abstract lens, merging cosmic themes with mythological undertones to bridge the conscious and unconscious realms.
Beyond Jung, Lupri’s inspirations span a wide range of artists who have pushed the boundaries of abstraction. Figures like Anselm Kiefer, Picasso, Modigliani, Pollock, Joan Mitchell, Richter, and de Kooning have all played a role in shaping his visual language. Each of these artists shares a commitment to raw expression, layering, and the physicality of paint—qualities that resonate deeply with Lupri’s own approach. By studying their work, he has refined his ability to convey emotion and narrative through abstraction, ensuring that each piece is not just a painting but a psychological exploration.
