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Mateo is Matthew Leiker, an artist obsessed with the playful 2d graphic style that can be found in advertising and illustration art from the 1950's and 60's. Though his paintings often depict a variety of subjects, he is particularly drawn to themes and ideas that revolve around his second obsession: Roadside Americana. For inspiration, he frequently draws upon his own fond memories of piling into the family car with the folks and siblings for the long drive down from San Francisco to Southern California's Mecca of theme parks, beaches, restaurants and Googie style motels. These memories, which he now looks back upon as being life-changing, were later coupled with the experience of living and working for nearly 10 years in that very same "vacationland," where he spent seven of those employed at Disneyland as a wise-cracking Jungle Cruise skipper.

Further adding to his sources of inspiration are the many road trips he has made with his wife to explore nearly every corner of the U.S.A. He has studied Fine Art on both coasts and finished his formal training in 2003 with a Bachelor's Degree in Art from Bridgewater State College in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.