Matt Tommey has spent over 20 years cultivating a successful creative career as a visual artist, musician, author and creative catalyst for artists. His passion is to help connect artists to their purpose in life and thrive as a creative. Matt works as a fulltime contemporary basketry artist, speaker, author and executive director of The Worship Studio - a nonprofit he founded to help artists explore the connection between art adn spirituality. In addition to his work, Matt is priveliged to serve in many influential volunteer capacities within the creative community including Vice President of the National Basketry Organization and Marketing Chair for the River Arts District Artists in Asheville, NC. Matt is also a popular basketry teacher, leading classes and workshops at the John C. Campbell Folk School and the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. He is a member of the prestigious Southern Highland Craft Guild and Piedmont Craftsmen. In 2010 he was included in the "American Artist Under 40" registry by the Smithsonian's American Art Museum's Renwick Gallery. In 2011 he was awarded the "Festival Commissioners Award for the Most Innovative Design" at the International Wickerwork Festival in Nowy Tomysl, Poland.