Born and raised in Austin, Texas, Matthew Jones is a 4th generation sign painter who learned the art of hand lettering from his late grandfather Kert Jones. He grew up working in the sign industry and found his love for ceramics when he met Grand Junction ceramic artist and sculptor Damian Radice. After a three-year apprenticeship with Damian, he enrolled in Colorado Mesa University's Bachelor of Fine Arts program (2012-2016) where he was mentored by Jake Allee and KyoungHwa Oh.
Jones has shown his work regionally and nationally and has been an active member of the Grand Junction Clay Arts Guild and The Art Center of Western Colorado (TAC) since 2011. He has a passion for education and has taught numerous workshops and art classes in the community. Having the extensive knowledge of sign painting and how to use and maintain paint brushes, Jones has continuously explored the realm of brush making and now creates brushes for pottery, sign painting, and other fine arts. Jones teaches Commercial Typography/Sign Painting at Colorado Mesa University in the Graphic Design program in the hopes of spreading the love of hand lettering and sign painting techniques to the next generation of Graphic Design artists.
In 2014, Jones received his Master's degree in Okinawan Shorin-Ryu Karate-Do from the Western Colorado Karate League. He teaches Martial Arts at Nine Province Kung Fu and at Colorado Mesa University in the Kinesiology program. His life-long study of martial arts and its history continues to influence and inform his artistic process.
Jones is the Curator and instructor for TAC. Jones through his ceramic artwork and teaching continues to develop his focus in history, art, and culture as he shares his love for the arts with the community.
With his wife Ashtonn Means, ceramic artist and instructor, they opened By All Means Arts pottery studio together in Fruita, CO at the new Fruita Arts Recreation Marketplace (FARM) in 2022. Jones appreciates having a private studio space to continue expanding his work and to offer classes and workshops to the Fruita arts community. Jones encourages everyone to stop by the studio, grab a cup of coffee, and come chat about art!
