Matthew David Harwood

Matthew David Harwood of Alexandria, Virginia passed away at the age of 66 on Tuesday, October 14, 2025. Holding the hand of his wife and surrounded by his family's love, he lost his two-year battle with prostate cancer. Until his last days, Matthew spoke of the love he had for family and his appreciation of art and architecture.

Matthew was born on February 21, 1959, in Ft. Riley, Kansas to Michael Sullivan Harwood and Adele Gomez Harwood. Raised in a military family, he lived in several cities across the country as a child. In middle school he was undefeated on the wrestling team and served as Class President. In 1977, he graduated from Mt. Vernon High School in Mt. Vernon, Virginia, where he excelled in baseball, football and basketball. In 1983, he graduated Cum Laude from the Virginia Tech College of Architecture and Urban Studies, in the School of Architecture, Arts and Design. Upon graduation, Matthew was accepted for admittance to the Torpedo Factory Art Center (TFAC) based on his designs from Architecture school.

An award-winning professional artist, Matthew was an Artist in Residence at the TFAC for 38 years where he created multi-dimensional watercolor paintings based on his travel, engaging with the public and enchanting children with his artistic passion. He and his wife traveled extensively and were married in Spain, in the village where his maternal grandfather was raised.

He served as President of the TFAC Artist's Association and was instrumental in establishing the TFAC Target Gallery. Matthew was a public speaker, served as a panel member advocating for public art, and was invited to sit as a juror for The Art League and the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington, DC, where he reviewed museum grant applications. He was appointed by the Alexandria City Manager to serve as Chair of the Alexandria Public Art Committee, as well as to serve on the Commission for the Arts.

Matthew was awarded a Special Opportunity Grant by the City of Alexandria to design, fabricate and install a kinetic wind sculpture bench titled Moving Water. He received the Civic Award by the Mayor of the City of Alexandria for his significant contributions as an advocate for public art while serving on the Alexandria Commission for the Arts. The Commission also honored him by choosing his artwork to give as awards to outstanding arts organizations and individuals on two separate occasions. Matthew held the position of Public Art Manager for the City of Alexandria in the Office of the Arts from 2012 - 2024.

He premiered his mathematics-themed exhibition, The Art of Prime Numbers, at the Tri-Mission Gallery inside the U.S. Embassy in Rome. Captivated by prime numbers, he then devoted the rest of his career to creating images derived from them. Throughout his career, Matthew was invited to jury numerous art exhibitions, deliver countless speeches and demonstrations, hold many solo exhibitions, display his art in private galleries, and create set designs for plays.

Matthew is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Eileen Taylor, from Alexandria, Virginia, his mother Adele Harwood, his brother Michael Harwood and wife Christine, his sister Marguerite Besson and husband Paul, his sister Mary Therese Harwood, his brother Patrick Harwood and wife Alesia, his brother Peter Harwood, and many beloved nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his father, Michael S. Harwood, and brother, Thomas Harwood.

A Celebration of Life will be held on November 8, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at ALX Community, 201 N. Union Street, Suite 101, Alexandria, Virginia, 22314. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations in Matthew's memory be made to The King Street Gardens Park Fund. You can send your donations c/o The Office of the Arts, 1108 Jefferson Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314. Please make checks payable to the City of Alexandria.

The family would also appreciate your donations to The American Cancer Society in the hopes of finding a cure to spare others from this devastating disease.

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