Discovering a Passion: The Art of Tibor Matijas

Tibor Matijas, a self-taught artist hailing from Prijedor in the Republic of Srpska, has been captivating audiences with his unique paintings since 2016. His journey into the world of art began after a diverse and adventurous life that included studying journalism and communicology, followed by four years of traveling the world with Cruise Lines.

In October 2016, Tibor's life took a transformative turn. After years of exploring various cultures and landscapes, he found his true passion in painting. Initially experimenting with oil on canvas, Tibor soon discovered that acrylics provided him with greater comfort and flexibility, allowing his creativity to flow more freely.

Tibor's artwork is a vibrant blend of real-life experiences and imaginative landscapes, often infused with a touch of magic. His pieces reflect the places he has visited, intertwined with elements from his imagination, creating a sense of wonder and tranquility. Tibor's paintings aim to evoke peace and joy in viewers, transporting them to his dreamlike worlds.

One of the most appealing aspects of painting for Tibor is the continuous journey of improvement and self-discovery. With each new piece, he witnesses his artistic growth and strives to bring something fresh and inspiring to his audience. His philosophy is simple yet profound: "It doesn't matter what you make or create; if you enjoy it and put your soul into it... that's art!"

Tibor Matijas’s art invites viewers to escape into a realm where reality and imagination intertwine, offering a moment of serenity and a glimpse into the artist's soul. Through his work, Tibor continues to explore, create, and share his unique vision with the world.

Q&A with OA

When did you start as an artist? Where did you start out?

I have a very clear memory of my first moments of inspiration when I was a child. Growing up in Bosnia in the 90s I began drawing after seeing my dad draw a tree and a portrait of a person. After he left for work I wanted to give it a try. I must have drawn three or four portraits and easily around 30 trees! I enjoyed making them so much. Even better was seeing the amazement on my father’s face as he appreciated my efforts.

What inspired you the most to begin your journey as an artist?

As a professional, I struggled a lot to stay attached to one kind of work. Regardless of pay I kept wanting a deeper satisfaction. It's the classic cliche really. I was trying to find myself. In 2017 I bought a fish tank for my sister but forgot to buy a background to place inside. So I decided to paint one for her, but I was unhappy with my first attempt. One week later I painted another background setting, but still I was unsatisfied. Over the next couple of months, I continued to work on paintings that got better, one after the other. I was hooked. There was a love that I had tapped into. I finally felt challenged and satisfied by my work; I felt ready to try and support myself through my art. I have not stopped painting since.

Who are some artists you work with or inspire you?

At the beginning of my journey, artists who inspired me a lot were Thomas Kinkade(USA), Uros Predic (Serbia), and Dalibor Popovic Miksa (Serbia) whom I knew personally. Kinkade’s paintings capture a kind of perfected nature, an ideal moment in time. When I create my landscape paintings I attempt to create the same kind of feeling, a snapshot of the perfect moment in nature. Like Kinkade, Predic’s realism and structure showed me the kind of real-life images of people that I believed were the sign of a strong artist. Miksa’s work, however, led me to the other side of artistic expression, where the wash of color and movement gave birth to feelings first and form second. Now, I am exploring a style more aligned with the surrealists and seeing where feeling, form and metaphor meet.

Would you say you have a specific style or theme, if so how would you describe that?

I wouldn't label my artwork. I just do what I feel. Everything that I put on canvas comes from my soul. It is a process that takes time and restraint on my part. If I work on painting under pressure it's not going to meet the desired result. If I don't enjoy making the art, even if technically it is great, I don't consider Art.

What have been some of your most recent exhibitions or shows?

Over the last year, my work has been featured all over Manhattan and Brooklyn. I have done shows with Brooklyn Art Cave, AWITA Studio, Art Groove, One Art Space, Beyond Art Space Gallery, Avanti Art Gallery, Vanderplas Gallery, and others.

Where can people find your work?

While I do not have any work currently on display, I will be participating in the Clio Art Fair in Chelsea, NYC in September. My website tibart.site is home to a selected collection of my paintings that are available for purchase and of course you can check out my Instagram @tibart1. My work will be published soon in Studio Visit Magazine and I was recently welcomed into the artist collaborative Solas Studios in NYC.

What do you have coming up or that you are currently working on?

My next exhibition will be on September 5th at the Clio Art Fair in Chelsea, NYC. I will be taking three to five paintings to display, including what I believe to be my most successful painting to date, Led by Emotions. Recently, I have begun a follow-up painting on the largest canvas I have ever attempted, measuring 5ft x 5ft. I am so excited to see how it turns out.

Where can we follow you or stay in the loop with your updates?

I'm very active on Instagram and post updates on my stories daily. While my website is currently a gallery space, I am expanding it to include announcements and links so that my followers have another place to check in with me.