Meet Matt Doolin of Topanga Art Tile in Topanga Canyon

Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Doolin.

Matt, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
It goes way back, to the 60’s when two young artists were exploring the world and making their way towards developing themselves into legitimate artists and creating a life that included as much creativity as possible. After much traveling, mostly through Europe, they returned to the US in 1963 and started a life in New York when it was a buzzing and busy hub of energy with an atmosphere of endless creative exploration. At that time they also created my brother and I while living there, and then eventually were on the move again, heading across the country to the West. It was a cross country journey in a VW bus that took months, going through Mexico and eventually arriving in California. From there the journey went across the Pacific Ocean to explore a life in Australia, where my mother is from. Although we were there for only two years it was a significant period of our lives, but then the decision was made to return to California and look for opportunity there. Fortunately for us, after arriving on an Ocean-liner in the Port of LA, and after a lot of exploration by my mother, we found Topanga Canyon, after living near down town LA for about 6 months, something she was not willing to continue doing. So Topanga became our new home, and along with all the other experiences I had, had in the first five years of my life, this town and all the people in it, had a significant impact on my Life. It is why I am where I am now and certainly played a major role in my decision to do what I do.

Topanga allowed for a more settled life and that is where the roots were laid down. My father was pursuing the life of an oil painter and evolving in many directions, but that is another story altogether. Meanwhile my mother was taking care of us kids and building a community of friends and exploring her own creativity. Eventually, through her desire to become a painter herself and with the connection of a friend who was a potter, the idea of a Ceramic Collaboration took place. That was the beginning of making art and murals on tile and creating a business of it.

Their collaboration grew and expanded quite quickly and flourished in the environment of the California Crafts Movement of the 1970’s. Many things happened through the new business, including actually learning how to do what was necessary to develop the art and business elements of such a collaboration. The business continued to grow and by the time I was in high school I was already employed in the “Tile Factory”, as was my brother and some of my mother’s friends children. It was quite an operation!

Things evolved and eventually the collaboration hit some rocky times, as many creative relationships do, and both of them decided to go their own ways. My mother Leslie Doolin continued on by herself with a little help from my brother and I, but mostly single-handedly. Of course her great friend’s and the Topanga Community always backed her up in so many ways, but otherwise she was doing many amazing projects on her own in the garage studio through those years. Most of those projects are still alive and well all throughout Topanga and beyond, and I often meet people who tell me about the amazing tiles she made for them.

Meanwhile my brother and I were both involved in living our adolescence lives, and completing studies in college and traveling etc. This went on for many years through the Eighties but by the Mid-Nineties we ourselves were settling down and rejoined her full-time to continue the business. We had both had time to explore our own artistic endeavors at this point and were now ready to put them to work. I was also lucky enough to have spent quite a few years traveling abroad and widening my horizons. During those years I saw so much art and culture in so many places that inspired me in the years to come. All the Ancient Art and Design had a great impact on me and although the type of work we do always has a traditional element, our goal was, and always has been, to create original art and do our own thing. That’s how our Fish Tiles were invented and so many of our other original designs and ideas that became synonymous with what we are best known for at Topanga Art Tile.

Through the years all this has grown into so many incredible projects as we invent and learn new ways to use the medium as an art and also develop its functional purposes. It has taken us into the neighborhoods of Topanga, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Calabasas, and of course so many of Los Angeles’s other neighborhoods. In fact it has taken us Nationwide with projects extending from New York to Hawaii and beyond, and even into the International Realm of so many countries in Europe, Asia and South America, to name a few. Our work is included in so many places, including people’s Homes, from humble Houses to elaborate Mansions and Estates, and is also featured in Schools and Universities as well as Hotels and Theme parks. Another one of my favorite spaces to work in is Public Spaces where the true value of what we do can be experienced by many more people and seen in the streets and parks of cities where people have their daily experiences. These kinds of projects lend themselves to a higher purpose and create higher value for all.

Since the beginning we have always worked in a collaborative way, something that was born out of our start in the Hippy/Crafts Movement, and also because of the fact that we are a Family Business. But also, we enjoy the opportunity this business offers us to work individually as artists and to take things in a more personal direction, further expanding ourselves as artists, as well as expanding the overall impact we have as an art business. My brother Paul Doolin is certainly a fantastic artist with a wide range of abilities in so many facets of this business and has created numerous works of great beauty with a talent to express himself in many ways. I myself have also been blessed to be given the opportunity to do so many incredible projects, including some public ones, that have allowed me to create art and design through ceramics as well as using many other materials. It has enabled me to work in all the Fine Arts Mediums of Drawing, Painting, and Sculpting as well as Architecture and it’s all through this business. Some of my endeavors include creating original and contemporary designs involving Sacred Geometry which tap into Traditional and Ancient Art and which have been used very successfully in some incredible locations and enjoyed by many. On a more playful level I have also done many Artistic Scene Tiles, including some very popular Surf Tiles that are unique and very close to my other passion in life.

 

And so it goes on, and here we are, as the business continues to grow and evolve, so do we. I find it amazing and exciting that while I am working in an Ancient Craft, I am also living in this high tech Modern World and enjoying the benefits of both. It’s a nice collaboration.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Probably one of the biggest difficulties is to be a Family Business producing an art product, while working in a an economy that’s been growing towards favoring cheap and fast products and all the time trying to compete on a high-end level with low-end competition. Also a Family Business has its benefits and its burdens.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Topanga Art Tile – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Topanga Art Tile and Design specializes in making fine high-end tiles and ceramics as well as beautiful artistic murals and mosaics for both personal and public spaces. We often do Custom Work for people and places where art is a necessary element and long lasting durability is an absolute necessity. Weather in big or small spaces the idea is to create environments that feel good to be in and enhance ones overall enjoyment of those spaces, while hopefully creating a sense of wonder and well-being as well as contemplation. Probably one of my most proud accomplishments is the “Tapestry of Dreams” Mural at Fire Station 71 in Malibu, California which represents decades of work. But then there is also the local “Topanga Library Mural” and also the “Mermaid at Venice Beach” mural, both of which enabled me to accomplish some incredible high artistic details within the imagery. Also, there are quite a few very fancy Private Residences where the tile work is at a very high level of craftsmanship and detail, like the “Magic Carpet” swimming pool which you can see on our website. And then there is the “Living Mural” in downtown Los Angeles at the VOALA/Rotary House Shelter which goes towards service and giving back to a higher purpose. Along with the many personal and intimate projects we have done in people’s homes, these represent the best of what we do. I think we are doing what few others do and our personalized service means we try to treat you like family.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
The plan is to keep evolving and learning and growing. To be the biggest litttle tile shop in town. To take it to the next level and excel in the art of tiles, murals and mosaics, and to craft a business that’s moving towards the future, but keeping our roots in the ground.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least about our city?
What’s so great about LA is the people here, and all the varieties of cultures and backgrounds that bring endless possibilities of ideas and thought to the table,… as well as lots of good food!  Anything is possible here!  Even if it seems crazy, you can do it!
Also, the incredible natural scenery and resources to enjoy all around us within a short drive and the wide open space physically is great. Oddly, in some ways, that is also its biggest problem, because LA’s wide spread layout, does seem to create that lack of a Central Space where all the different communities come together, although that does seem to be improving as we move into the future.

Pricing:

• Please contact us for information about pricing and projects.
• We have a wide range of tiles available.
• Custom designs available upon request.

Contact Info:

• Address: Topanga Art Tile
  137 Topanga Canyon Blvd.
  Topanga, CA 90290
• Website: www.TopangaArtTile.com
• Phone: 310-455-3359 / 310-455-3937
• Email: [email protected]

Image Credit:
Matt Doolin

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