Mathew Merrett spent his early artistic career, exploring, photographing and exposing urban decay and industrial landscapes.

Along with other like minded photographers, Mathew formed the DK Photo Group. This group photographed, exhibited, and ran Gallery DK in Toronto. The DK Photo Group also starred in PhotoXplorers a Bravo TV series that filmed the group photographing abandoned buildings all over Europe.

In 2009, Mathew was awarded an Ontario Arts Council grant to photograph the remains of the Chornobyl disaster and the abandoned city of Pripyat. In 2011, this work was exhibited in the Toronto Ukrainian owned Bezpala Brown Gallery, marking 25 years since the disaster.

Merrett’s next focus was on abandoned quarries and mines, where the still remains of a manmade landscape rests.

Dark City is Mathew’s longterm, global project. It is the exploration of a metropolis after dark. Architecture and infrastructure take on a life of their own when devoid of human activity, yet human “presence” is everywhere. Street lights, headlights, and the moon provide a unique aura in the still of the night.

Mathew’s most recent project focused on the shores of Lake Huron, where he examined the enormous power of nature and it’s effect on the human spirit.

Mathew’s work has exhibited in several solo and group exhibitions, and his work hangs in private collections worldwide. He has three self published photography books that can be found here.