Mat Sanders is a classically trained actor, writer, and celebrity interior designer whose work spans the worlds of theatre, television, and high-end design. He began his career in Vero Beach, Florida, performing on stage and studying commedia dell’arte at the age of eight, eventually earning his BA in Theatre from Florida State University. Mat went on to become a company member at New York’s American Globe Theatre, where he trained in John Basil’s Lexicon technique, performing a wide range of Shakespearean fools and comedic leads.

His taste for absurd comedy and narrative experimentation found its stride with Sandy the Dandy and Charlie McGee: A Case Study in Harsh Realities, a satirical fairy tale co-written and performed by Mat (Critic’s Pick: Time Out New York, AV Club, Broadway.com). The show debuted at the 2009 New York Fringe Festival and later ran at the legendary Living Theatre, cementing his voice as both irreverent and emotionally incisive.

In the years that followed, Mat channeled his storytelling talents into the design world, becoming a go-to tastemaker for both media and celebrity clientele. He served as Editorial Director for MyDomaine and held senior positions at Domino and Apartment Therapy before launching his own firm, Mat Sanders Interiors. As a designer, he’s built luxe, lived-in spaces for A-listers including Miley Cyrus, Jessica Alba, Jimmy Kimmel, Nicole Richie, Lea Michele, and his work has been featured in Achitecural Digest, Elle Decor, Vogue, and more. On-camera, he’s brought his bold style to national TV audiences via shows on Bravo, OWN, and A&E.

Now, with RUGBURN, Mat returns to his performance roots in a fearless, genre-blurring solo show about sexual reinvention, and the stories we hide beneath beautiful surfaces. Blending design-world satire, queer absurdism, and raw emotional honesty, RUGBURN is Mat’s most personal project to date — a shag-carpeted, pop-styled confessional for anyone who’s ever made a masterpiece out of their own mess.