As we close out this year’s AP Artist Spotlight series, we feature Matt O’Leary ’26, whose Sustained Investigation explores how reflections in water can transform familiar objects, shapes, and colors into something entirely different.

Matthew’s fascination with reflections began at a young age, when he found himself noticing how water could distort otherwise recognizable scenes.

“When I was younger, I would spend a lot of time looking at reflections in puddles, lakes, and pools because I wondered why it was never clear, like a mirror,” said Matthew.

That curiosity eventually became the focus of his Sustained Investigation, which asks: How can water reflections change the way we see familiar objects?

Working primarily with acrylic paint, along with oil pastels and collage, Matt began his portfolio with more realistic scenes before gradually moving toward abstraction. Layering became an important part of his process, allowing him to create movement, distortion, and depth while breaking complex reflections down into shapes and colors.

“As my work developed, I became more interested in mixing realism with abstraction and letting the materials guide my decisions,” he said.

Through texture, collage, and expressive color, Matt plays with the line between what is real and what is reflected. While his inspiration comes from observing natural environments, he hopes his work leaves viewers questioning exactly what they are seeing.

“I want viewers to feel slightly unsettled and curious, questioning what is real versus reflected,” he said.

Looking ahead, Matt hopes to continue experimenting with abstraction while maintaining a connection to the natural world that first inspired his work.

We thank Matt for sharing his artistic journey and perspective, and congratulate all 13 of our AP artists on an incredible year of creativity, exploration, and growth.