Visual artist Matthew Biorn has opened up about the evolution of his artistic journey, revealing how market realities, Botswana’s wildlife and landscapes, and a growing commitment to mentorship are shaping the next chapter of his work.
Speaking in a recent interview, the Maun-based painter described how his creative balance has shifted over time. When he began painting full-time in 2012, he said his work was “pretty close to 50/50” between internal and external inspiration. Today, however, the external world plays a larger role.
“I think it is a reflection of what I perceive will sell better on the market,” he explained. While he still enjoys creating expressive, imaginative pieces drawn from his inner world, he admits these works often feel “too personal” to sell, prompting a stronger focus on landscapes, wildlife and portraits.
His relationship with Botswana has also transformed his practice. Early in his career, Biorn recalled being asked whether he painted wildlife—a suggestion he initially resisted.
“I remember feeling at the time like wildlife paintings were so boring and cliché,” he said. That perspective changed dramatically after relocating to Boro in 2018. Living near elephants, hippos, crocodiles and birdlife reshaped his view of the subject matter.
“When you can get quite close to them, their presence is awe-inspiring and they evoke raw emotions of courageous survival and startling beauty.”
Despite these shifts in subject matter, the core purpose of his work remains consistent: to create paintings that bring warmth and peace into living spaces. He described how removing a long-displayed painting from a room can noticeably change its atmosphere.
“It feels as if the life has been sucked out of the room,” he said, calling the phenomenon “one metric of a successful painting.”
The changing environment around Maun has also influenced his creative outlook. After years of drought, rising water levels have brought renewed optimism to the region. For Biorn, the annual arrival of the “leleme” and the flow toward the Thamalakane River mirrors the rhythms of creativity.
“It forces you to be patient with yourself when the muse does not want to visit you, because you know the creative, life-giving waters will come when the time is right.”
Nature remains central to his philosophy and artistic storytelling. Biorn describes nature and spirituality as inseparable, saying his work often seeks to imitate the beauty already perfected in the natural world from the pastel tones of a sunset sky to the symmetry of a lion’s face.
At this stage of his career, he is also embracing experimentation. Recently, he has begun incorporating gels, glues, pastes and sand to add texture to his paintings and is considering exploring sculpture in the future. He credits a late uncle, who learned glassblowing later in life, for inspiring his openness to new mediums.
Looking ahead, Biorn hopes his legacy will extend beyond galleries and private collections into community mentorship. He and his wife founded Botho Corps Trust, an NGO that provides free bus rides for 78 children in Boro to attend school in Maun and hosts youth wellness camps exposing young people to art, sports and life skills.
“Teaching and exposing the Boro kids to art has been very fulfilling,” he said, adding that he hopes to mentor more young artists in the future.
Ultimately, Biorn sees art as a path toward lasting impact. “Knowing my works are being seen and appreciated by many different people for many years into the future gives me a sense of peace,” he reflected. “Do we really die if what we leave behind keeps our memory alive in the hearts and minds of the living?”
