Amanda Matthews facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Amanda Matthews
Amanda Matthews in studio
Born	September 1, 1968 Louisville, Kentucky
Education	University of Louisville
Occupation	Sculptor, painter, CEO of Prometheus Foundry
Spouse(s)	Robert (Brad) Connell
Children	2

Amanda Matthews (born 1968) is an American artist. She is a talented sculptor and painter from Louisville, Kentucky. Today, she lives in Lexington, Kentucky. Amanda is well-known for creating amazing artworks that celebrate women and show how important it is to include everyone.

Early life and education
Career highlights
- Honoring important women
- Kentucky COVID-19 Memorial
Selected public works and collections
Nominations and awards
Public mentions and media
See also

Early life and education

Amanda Matthews was born in 1968 in Louisville, Kentucky. Her parents are James (Jim) Matthews III and Brenda Matthews. She went to Bullitt East High School in Mt. Washington, graduating in 1986.

Amanda then studied at the University of Louisville. In 1990, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Art. She also studied philosophy. In 1989, she traveled to Paris, France. There, she learned more about fine art and architecture.

Career highlights

Amanda working on the clay faces for "The Girl Puzzle" monument honoring Nellie Bly.

Amanda Matthews accepting the NAWBO Strive Business Owner of the Year Award in 2018.

Amanda Matthews with Roland Martin at the Newseum for the Alice Dunnigan statue unveiling.

Amanda Matthews with Congressman John Lewis at the unveiling of "John Lewis – Good Trouble."

Amanda Matthews on a panel discussing the Alice Allison Dunnigan statue.

Governor Beshear thanks Amanda Matthews for her design of the COVID-19 memorial.

Amanda Matthews started her career as a painter. She also taught art at the Louisville Visual Arts Association. In 1998, she started her own company, Wild Honeysuckle Studio. Later, in 2009, it joined with Prometheus Bronze Foundry, LLC.

In 2006, Amanda received her first grant. This allowed her to travel to Mainz, Germany. She represented the City of Louisville in an art exhibition. Her artwork became a permanent gift to the City of Mainz. Later that year, she joined a tour for artists in the Appalachian Mountains. This trip inspired her large bronze sculptures called "Messengers." These sculptures often focus on environmental issues. In 2007, she created a huge art piece for the Louisville Zoo. It was called Water is Life and was 210 feet long.

In 2015, Amanda started a charity called the Artemis Initiative. This group helps support art projects.

Honoring important women

Amanda is famous for creating statues that honor important women.

In 2018, she unveiled a statue of Alice Allison Dunnigan. Alice was the first African American woman to get special press passes for the White House and Congress. The statue traveled to many places, including universities and the Truman Presidential Library. Now, it is permanently at the SEEK Museum in Russellville, Kentucky. This museum is part of the United States civil rights trail.

In 2019, Amanda was chosen for a big project in New York City. She created a large sculpture called "The Girl Puzzle." This artwork honors Nellie Bly, a famous investigative reporter. It was unveiled on December 10, 2021, on Roosevelt Island.

Amanda also created a bronze statue of Nettie Depp. Nettie was Amanda's great-great aunt. She was a champion for public education in Kentucky. This statue is the first large permanent monument of a woman inside the Kentucky Capitol building. It was unveiled in November 2022.

Kentucky COVID-19 Memorial

On November 14, 2021, Kentucky held a special ceremony. It was to remember the many people who lost their lives to the COVID-19 Pandemic. During this event, it was announced that Amanda Matthews' design was chosen for the permanent Team KY COVID-19 Memorial Monument. Her design is called "United We Stand, Divided We Fall." This is based on Kentucky's state motto.

Selected public works and collections

2021–present: Team Kentucky COVID-19 Memorial Monument, "United We Stand, Divided We Fall" for KY Capitol Monuments Collection
2014–2022: Life Size Bronze Portrait of Nettie Depp, for KY State Capitol Building for KY Capitol Monuments Collection
2019–2021: Monumental Sculptural Installation honoring Investigative Journalist, Nellie Bly, New York City, Roosevelt Island, titled "The Girl Puzzle" at Lighthouse Park; Collection: New York City Public Art Collection
2020–2021: Giant Ginseng Shade Sculpture for Legacy Grove Park, Collection: Greater Clark Foundation
2016–2019: Life Size Bronze Portrait of Alice Allison Dunnigan for Russellville, Kentucky Collection: SEEK Museum (part of US Civil Rights Trail)
2018–2019: 3D Letters and Plaques for "John Lewis – Good Trouble" Tribute Wall at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport; Collection: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport Collection
2015–2016: Life Size Bronze Portrait of Capt. Solomon Lee Van Meter Jr., pioneer aviator, for the Aviation Museum of Kentucky and Bluegrass Airport Permanent Collection
2014: Life Size Ancient Greek Boxer Olympian Bronze Reproduction, Jasmine Hill Gardens, Montgomery, Alabama, Jasmine Hill Gardens Permanent Collection
2013: Bronze portrait of Dr. George Zach, retired conductor, installed in Singletary Center for the Arts, University of Kentucky Art Museum Permanent Collection
2012: Good Shepherd Catholic Church Baptismal Font, Frankfort, KY, Roman Catholic Diocese of Lexington Permanent Public Collection
2010: Life Size Bronze Stephen Elrod Memorial Sculpture installed at Georgetown College in Permanent Public Sculpture Collection
2009: St. Paul Catholic Church Baptismal Font, Lexington, KY, Roman Catholic Diocese of Lexington Permanent Public Collection
2007: Louisville Zoo, 210' Ephemeral Environmental Sculpture Installation, Water is Life
2006: City of Mainz, Germany Permanent Collection

Nominations and awards

2023 – Awarded 2022 Governor's Award in the Arts, Artist Award
2022 – Elected Chair of the Kentucky Oral History Commission
2022 – Elected Vice Chair of the Kentucky Oral History Commission
2021 – Small Business Association (SBA) Pacesetter Award; awarded to Amanda Matthews, Prometheus Art for The Girl Puzzle Monument
2020 – Appointed as member of the Kentucky Oral History Commission by Governor Andy Beshear
2019 – Board/Committee Member, Monumental Women of Kentucky
2018 – NAWBO Kentucky Chapter awards Matthews 2018 "Strive Business Owner of the Year" Award
2018 – National Association of Women in Construction (Lexington Bluegrass Chapter 367) Bluegrass Diamond Award

Public mentions and media

2022 – CNN: Kentucky unveils statue of Nettie Depp, the first woman to have a permanent large-scale monument inside the state Capitol
2022 – LEX18 News: Nettie Depp statue unveiled at the Kentucky State Capitol
2021 – Office of NY Governor: Governor Hochul Announces Opening of The Girl Puzzle Monument Honoring Nellie Bly
2021 – NBC News Now: How Roosevelt Island sculptures amplify stories of strong women
2021 – CBS Saturday Morning News: Monument honoring journalist Nellie Bly opens: "This installation is spiritual"
2021 – Office of KY Governor: Kentucky Artist Amanda Matthews to construct permanent Team Kentucky COVID-19 Memorial
2021 – Lexington Herald Leader: 'Not just a number.' Kentucky art installation will honor 10,000-plus COVID-19 deaths
2021 – The Courier-Journal: 20 Months, more than 10,000 deaths: Kentucky memorializes those who have died from COVID
2021 – The Lily (Washington Post): This Massive Monument to Women is Quietly Taking Shape in New York City
2020 – New York Times: Placing Women on a Different Sort of Pedestal
2020 – Smithsonian Magazine: Kentucky State Capitol Will Unveil Its First Statue Honoring a Woman
2020 – Smithsonian Magazine: The Must-See Outdoor Art Installations of 2020 Amanda Matthews' The Girl Puzzle, New York City, listed 3rd on worldwide list of 9
2019 – C-SPAN: African American Journalist Alice Allison Dunnigan Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, Dr. Nancy Dawson, Amanda Matthews, Soraya Dunnigan presented
2019 – Winchester Sun: Shade Sculpture will soon 'grow' at Legacy Grove
2018 – Politics: First black female White House reporter gets Newseum statue, The Washington Post
2018 – NATIONAL: Alice Dunnigan, First Black Woman To Cover White House, Gets Statue At Newseum, NPR, All Things Considered
2018 – Alice Dunnigan, First Black Woman to Cover White House, Will Get Statue at Newseum, The New York Times
2017 – Kentucky Historic Properties Advisory Commission approves life-size sculpture of Nettie Depp for Kentucky Capitol
2016 – Dunnigan to be honored with bronze statue
2016 – Aviation Museum to unveil bronze sculpture of aviation pioneer Van Meter
2015 – Lexington sculptor seeks – and starts creating – more statues of notable Kentucky women, minorities, Lexington Herald Leader, Lexington, KY
2015 – Appeared in Documentary Film, Dreamers and Doers: VOICES of Kentucky Women
2015 – Restored Gratz Park 'kids' return to James Lane Allen fountain
2013 – Dr. George Zach bronze portrait unveiled at Singletary Center for the Arts, in Lexington, KY, University of Kentucky Art Museum Permanent Collection
2010 – Stephen Elrod Memorial bronze sculpture unveiled at Georgetown College
April 22, 2007 – Water is Life Ephemeral Environmental Art Installation at the Louisville Zoo, Courier Journal, Critics Pick by Diane Heilenman, visual art critic
July 2006 – Amanda Matthews (Fields) work featured in Germany's Der Mainzer Magazine
May 2006 – Art World News magazine lists Amanda Matthews (Fields) on their Artists Worth Watching list.