Luke John Matthew Arnold: Colour, Courage & the Beauty of Being Human
There are artists who paint what they see - and then there are artists like Luke John Matthew Arnold, who paint what they feel.
Based on Yuin Country in Braidwood, Luke is a bold, witty, and deeply thoughtful Australian visual artist and illustrator whose work explores colour, language, identity, and the messy, wonderful contradictions of being human. With warmth, humour, and a lot of heart, he turns the complexities of life into moments of connection, courage, and joy.
The Art of Honesty (and a Little Bit of Chaos)
Luke’s creative journey began at university, where he began using art as a form of questioning - looking closely at how social stereotypes, masculinity, and sexuality are represented, performed, and perceived. Through this exploration, he played with words, symbols, colour, and form - creating jewellery, textile sculptures, and book art that blurred boundaries between art, language, and lived experience.
After graduating, he spent time running an art department in a community centre. But that “9 to 5” life quickly dulled the spark. Feeling creatively stifled, Luke started doodling - and something clicked.
Those sketches evolved into his now unmistakable visual style: camp, pop-coloured, cheeky, and unashamedly human. His illustrations are both playful and profound - the kind that make you smile first, and then think deeply a moment later.
Finding Community Through Colour
When Luke began sharing his work online, he didn’t just build an audience - he found a community.
Artists, performers, and organisations who shared his ethos of equality, inclusivity, and optimism rallied around his vibrant world of fists, rainbows, and fearless self-expression.
His proudest moment so far? Lending his artwork to the Australian Marriage Equality campaign - where his iconic imagery adorned pubs, clubs, and city streets across the country. That collaboration wasn’t just about art; it was about belonging, visibility, and giving joy to ideas that are often discussed in whispers.
Luke’s work makes space for conversations that matter - but with a smile, a wink, and a burst of hot pink.
Full Circle: From Flat Art to 3D Expression
With the growing support for his illustrations, Luke has returned to his earlier love of 3D object making - reimagining his illustrated world in tactile form. The focus remains the same: sexuality, identity, and what it means to grow up feeling different - or, as Luke puts it, “uncomfortably gay in the Sutho Shire.”
Through sculpture, colour, and clever visual language, his practice continues to question norms and celebrate individuality - one unapologetic artwork at a time.
Why We Love Luke
At Goodness Studio, we’re drawn to Luke’s fearless honesty and joyful rebellion. His work reminds us that good design doesn’t just decorate - it communicates, liberates, and connects.
Every print and object tells a story of resilience, self-expression, and humour - a reminder to laugh, feel, and take life a little less seriously.
Because in Luke’s world, colour is courage, art is activism, and being human - in all its awkward, beautiful glory, is something worth celebrating.
Explore more work from Luke John Matthew Arnold on Instagram @lukejohnmatthewarnold