Matt Lamb was born on the south side of Chicago, Illinois in 1932 as the son of a funeral home owner. When Lamb was 18, he became a partner in his father's business and, with the help of his brother, began to expand it. By 1970 the business had six locations and was still growing. In 1954, Matt married Rosemarie Graham, with whom he had four children. When he was in his early 50's, Lamb was diagnosed with mononucleosis complicated by chronic active hepatitis and sarcoidosis of the liver and was told that he had perhaps a year to live. Having spent the majority of his life around death and the concept of unfulfilled wishes, he decided to spend what time he had remaining as a painter. He sold off his numerous businesses and used this wealth t...