Mathew Hintz: Harley Davidson Gas and Oil Artist Leaves Legacy and Young Family

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Harley Davidson Gas and Oil Artist Leaves Legacy and Young Family

Friends create tribute video and set up fundraising site for his four children

Milwaukee, Wisc. (Jan. 22, 2018) — Mathew Hintz, the Official Artist of Daytona Bike Week, died unexpectedly at the age of 41 on December 24, 2017, leaving a wife and four children ages 6 – 13. His 2018 Daytona Bike Week painting was the last piece of artwork he completed before his death.

Friends of his family are asking the motorcycle community to share messages of hope and consider donating to a fund that will help with child care, meals and future college expenses: https://www.gofundme.com/Mathewhintz.

Enthusiasts can also visit his website, hintzstudios.com, to purchase prints and exclusive paintings, such as Willie’s 36 Knuckle, American Muscle, Rushmore and Daytona Blue. A tribute video shares a glimpse of his iconic artwork and charity work: https://youtu.be/nGXcd5_W5Aw.

Specializing in “gas and oil” subjects and the drama of professional sports, Hintz worked professionally for more than 20 years to develop the techniques behind his distinctive sculptural layered-paint portraits and rugged charcoal drawings. He captured the passion of his clients through impressionistic painting. Hintz created more than 60 paintings and gritty charcoal drawings, many of which were larger scale at 40″ x 60.”

Hintz worked as a contract artist to the Harley-Davidson Styling and Creative Services Departments, working closely with Willie G. Davidson and others to create motorcycle paint designs, helmet graphics and tank medallions. In addition to Harley-Davidson images, Hintz worked with Ford Images and also created sports art for Steiner Sports, painting athletes like Derek Jeter, Ryan Braun and Mike Tyson.

Why help? It’s personal.

Anyone who attended Daytona Bike Week from 2015 to 2018 may be wearing the artwork of Mathew Hintz on a patch or T-shirt. Hintz’ artwork was featured on the Official Daytona Bike Week poster for the Daytona Chamber of Commerce from 2015 to 2018. Hintz’ artwork was also on the cover of the official Daytona Bike Week guide for 2017 & 2018.

Riders who bought a Harley-Davidson in the past decade probably have his work in their garage. Hintz created the original cover art for Harley-Davidson Owner Manuals from 2008 to 2017. One of Hintz’s first assignments at Harley was to design the tank medallion for the Softail Deluxe motorcycle.

Enthusiasts involved with the Harley Owners Group (HOG) have worn his artwork. Hintz designed rocker patches, t-shirts, logos and graphics for HOG, Buell and Harley-Davidson MotorClothes, as well as anniversary merchandise and models.

Hintz gave back

Hintz was passionate about leveraging the power of his art for good works. As a father of four, he was focused on assisting children in need. His artwork was auctioned to support the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) through Harley-Davidson, the MakeA-Wish Foundation and Curing Kids Cancer through Mecum Auctions Company.

Hintz co-created two paintings with Reagan Imhoff, now the MDA National Ambassador. Reagan’s mother Jenny spoke at his funeral, sharing how the two families bonded and spent time together over the past few years. During one visit, Hintz’s youngest child helped Reagan build a fairy garden in the backyard. Jenny said that when they heard the news about his passing, Reagan’s first thought was about his kids, because she knows how much he loved and adored his family. She wanted to make sure they were taken care of.

“I’ll never forget the first time we met Matt when he came over to introduce Reagan to art,” said Jenny Imhoff. “This big bearded guy with a Mountain Dew walks in, and at first Reagan just shyly smiled and wasn’t so sure about things. But within five minutes they were making a big charcoal mess and she realized that Matt was a giant teddy bear and they became fast friends.

Afterward, while I’m trying in vain to clean Reagan’s charcoal-covered hands, he pulls out this cute little bottle of pink nail polish for Reagan. What a good laugh we got from the irony of it all!” She added, “Matt really encouraged and taught Reagan so much about art and using different mediums and trying new things. He was always willing to help out and share his time and talents to help kids like Reagan.”

Below is a “note” Reagan wrote to Matt that she asked Jenny to read at the funeral:

Dear Matt,

You are kind, funny, creative, generous and have the biggest heart! I will miss you so much and I will never forget all of the fun we have had together making messes and creating so many cool pieces of art. Thank you for all you have taught me and thanks for sharing you love of art. I will miss you so much.

Love and hugs, Reagan

Rest in peace, Mathew Hintz. Keep the angels up there on their toes – and help them paint beautiful skies for all to enjoy.