Matthews is an interdisciplinary artist and third-year graduate student at Southern Illinois University. Originally from Raceland, Louisiana, she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture from Nicholls State University. She has exhibited work nationally and received a scholarship to study abroad in France and Italy. Both experiences broadened her artistic perspective.

Growing up in South Louisiana, she spent much of her childhood camping, hiking, and exploring the outdoors with her family. Those experiences sparked a lifelong appreciation for the natural world that continues to shape my work. When she’s not in the studio, you can usually find her exploring Southern Illinois state parks, where she gathers inspiration from the landscape and its organic forms