MATL PETRO

Laureate of the Regional Prize named after Y. Bokshai and A. Erdeli (2007). Laureate of Transcarpathian Regional Art Prize named after Simon Hollósy (2006), laureate of the International Prize "For Hungarian Culture"(2009). Member of the Society of Hungarian Artists of Transcarpathia named after Imre Revesz (1995), member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine (1999). The holder of the diploma of honour for the achievements in painting (2000), the laureate of the Order of the Cross of the Second Degree of the Hungarian Republic (2006), the Order of the Prime Minister of Hungary (2006).

He was born in the family of teachers in Mukachevo. Since school years, P. Matl has adored the works of Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, Edward Manet. When he was 12-13 years old, Peter attended plein airs with such well-known teachers and artists as Vasyl Burch and Anton Kashshai. In 1979, he graduated from the Uzhhorod School of Applied Arts, his teacher of sculpture was L. Averkiieva.  During his studies, the young artist's idol was the English sculptor and monumentalist Henry Moore and the leaders of the Russian avant-garde Vladimir Tatlin and Oleksandr Rodchenko. Until 1985, he worked in the Transcarpathian Art and Industrial Complex as an artist-designer. From 1985 to 1988 – a lecturer in art ceramics at the Mukachevo Gymnasium. He lives and works in Mukachevo.

Peter Matl is known primarily as a sculptor. He works with stone, wood and bronze. Creates public statues, fountains, religious altars and sculptures. The major part of the sculptures is dedicated to the theme of family, but one can see the works devoted to the well-known personalities of Transcarpathia, as well as mythical characters. He also has the works on religious topics. In particular, the sculpture of the Virgin Mary in Dzhublyk village (Irshava district, Transcarpathia) and patron saint of Mukachevo St. Martin and many others. Speaking about his work, Peter Matl gives the first place to the sculptures "Bureaucrat", symbolizing the former USSR, "Ptakholov" – as a symbol of a person who is looking for his roots. The sculptural composition "Ilona Zrini and Her Son" (located on the territory of the Mukachevo Castle "Palanok") is a symbol of the constant desire for freedom and change for the better. The Veretskyi monument "The Hungarians' Entry into the Carpathian Basin" symbolizes the unity of peoples, who for centuries live alongside, complementing and enriching each other's culture and traditions. In addition, Peter Matl – a great graphic artist. In particular, he recently presented a series of works entitled "Five", which reveals the terrible history of Stalinist repressions and the Gulag concentration camps.

Peter Matl – as chairman of the public organization "Pro Arte-Munkács" is the organizer of numerous international symposiums. Participant in national and international art exhibitions and symposiums. Laureate of international and world sculpture symposiums held in Hungary, France, Austria, Switzerland, Brazil, and Japan. The works of the artist are kept in the private collections of Ukraine, Hungary, Austria, the Czech Republic, Sweden, France, Japan, Germany, and the USA.