Painter

Kiptoe

Kiptoe, also known as Matt Dean, is an American mural artist and filmmaker known for large walls, character-driven storytelling, and public-art videos.

Kiptoe quick facts

Kiptoe’s quick facts cover his mural practice, public-art projects, recurring characters, large-scale walls, and filmmaking tied to his work.

Kiptoe quick facts
Full name	Matt Dean
Born	1991 · United States
Died	—
Nationality	American
Movements	Street art
Paint types	Acrylic paint · Spray paint
Other media	Illustration, filmmaking, and large-scale mural production
Other materials	—
Painting surfaces	Canvas · Brick · Concrete · Plaster
Painting methods	Large-scale mural painting with spray paint and acrylic, developed through character illustration
Common subjects	Mythic figures, animals, heroes, relationships, movement, transformation, and narrative scenes
Notable works	Patterns of Being · The Universe is Watching · The Opulent Octopus

Sources: Kiptoe biography, Kiptoe original artwork, Kiptoe murals, Chicago Sun-Times: Kiptoe mural profile, and Kiptoe murals.

Paint types used by Kiptoe

Kiptoe uses acrylic and spray paint in murals, with examples below linking each medium to large walls, layered color, and public-art projects.

Acrylic paint

Kiptoe uses acrylic paint in mural work, applying broad color areas directly to prepared exterior walls. He develops large compositions from sketches and painted blocks, adapting line and scale to the building surface. The medium is documented in his mural practice, distinct from spray paint used for selected edges and details.
Spray paint

Kiptoe uses aerosol spray paint alongside brush-applied acrylic in murals. The spray allows him to lay down quick edges and small details over larger painted areas, adapting his marks to the scale and texture of a wall. It is part of a mixed application process, not the sole material in his murals.

Sources: Kiptoe biography, Kiptoe original artwork, Kiptoe murals, and Chicago Sun-Times: Kiptoe mural profile.

Painting surfaces used by Kiptoe

Records identify Kiptoe's use of canvas, brick, and concrete, with named examples below showing how each support functions in the finished work.

Canvas

Kiptoe also paints studio works and portable pieces on canvas. These smaller works give him a flexible surface for compositions developed outside the architectural setting of his murals, which are painted on masonry and plaster walls. These works are separate from his wall murals.
Brick

Kiptoe paints murals directly on brick walls, working across the masonry joints and texture as part of a large outdoor composition. His brush-applied acrylic and spray paint adapt to the rough surface; this is distinct from his studio canvases. The masonry remains visible around the painted forms.
Concrete

Kiptoe’s large outdoor murals also appear on concrete walls and structures. The hard masonry surface requires preparation before painting, then carries large fields of color and drawn detail exposed to public view. This support is separate from the brick locations in his project records.
Plaster

Kiptoe paints murals on plaster walls, preparing the surface before applying color and outlines. Plaster offers a smoother wall ground than brick or exposed concrete while still making the architecture part of the image. His work on plaster is distinct from portable studio paintings on canvas.