Introducing Matthew Huval

Matthew Huval is a visual artist and musician based in Lafayette, Louisiana. From a young age, Matthew created animations using Macromedia Flash on his family computer and Flipnote Studio on his Nintendo DSi under the moniker “GameRat101.” He also began making music with FL Studio and, while in high school, released mashups on SoundCloud under the same username.

Matthew attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette from 2019 to 2022, studying visual arts with a focus in animation. He currently plays guitar and sings for Genuine Mustard, a quarantine-conceived solo project that grew into a quartet with the addition of bass, drums, and trumpet. Since 2024, the band has toured throughout the Southeast and Midwest, and their debut album, Afraid and OK, is currently in the works.

Who makes up your art circle?

When I was in college, my art circle consisted almost entirely of visual artists, most of whom were pursuing degrees in animation or graphic design. We met through visual arts courses or at art parties, where everyone would draw and paint on huge canvases to create collaborative pieces. It was the first time I had been surrounded by so many local artists I could talk with about shared media interests and influences.

In 2022, I started going to more local live music shows and tuning into the Lafayette music scene. My art circle now is very much a mixture of musicians and visual artists who, at times, combine the two mediums in their work.

How do you expand your art circle?

I absolutely love talking to bands and musicians after local shows. The results can vary because performers are sometimes pretty exhausted and don’t feel like saying much, but it’s an absolute blast whenever the conversation starts to click.

I also love meeting people at ArtWalk in Downtown Lafayette. Talking with artists and vendors and seeing the community’s creative output is always a wonderful time.

What value do you see in having a creative community?

Having a creative community means there are more opportunities to inspire others. I highly value the sharing of knowledge, and I believe a fundamental part of being an artist is the ability to gather your influences and create something that is uniquely your own. That would be much more difficult without the work that already exists within a creative community.

Having a thriving arts community is also a great way to encourage future artists to participate and get their own gears turning. Art is able to exist beyond its creator, and giving that work visibility allows people to appreciate it, interpret it, and draw inspiration from it for as long as it remains part of their community.

How does your artistic approach contribute to your community?

A good artist, songwriter, or musician is also a good observer. I want to encourage people to really absorb their surroundings, their interests, and the art they cherish.

With my music, I hope to encourage potential songwriters to discover what their values really are, dig into those ideas through their music, and eventually find a sound of their own.

• 

• 

•