About me

Matúš Zajac /1971/ has got the art education at FAMU in Prague and at the Academy of Fine Arts and design in Bratislava where he was fully interested in documentary photography in atelier of Ľubo Stacho. He finished studies in 2003. Consciously he links the document with visual elements. He works on long-term projects – Communities, Forms of faith, Immigrants, Confrontations – Asia and Portraits.

He cooperates with various publishing houses, magazines and advertisement agencies like TASR, AB40, Im Berlín, Linead Ombrai, Tchin Bumm, PolyGram, BMG, Dumont, Kalligram, Mark/BBDO etc.

Since 2003 – 2017 he is a photographer of the National Council of Slovak Republic and since 2005  2017 he works also for the magazine .týždeň.  Since 2007 he lectures the analysis of documentary photography on workshops in the House of Photography in Bratislava, since 2009 / 2013 he is a teacher of photojournalism at the Department of Journalism at the Catholic University in Ružomberok and since 2011 at the University Comenianus in Bratislava.  

In 2016 Czech Press Photo  price „ Cena Olgy Havlové,:  www.vdv.cz/clanky/novinky/zname-viteze-ceny-vdv-na-czech-press-photo/ „ in 2013 he won the one price on Czech Press Photo and the one price on Slovak Press Photo. In 2012 he won the second price on Czech Press Photo and the  Slovak Press Photo 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015.

In global photojournalistic competition The Best of Photojournalism 2011, 2013 as a photographer of the magazine .týždeň he won the first and the third prize. In 2011 he published his first author

In 2012 he won the journalistic price for the best photo story HoPe – Homeless People for the year 2011. He was nominated in the category of The best journalistic photography for the year 2007, 2010,2011,2012. 

 2011 issued book Forms of faith on which he works more than 20 years.

 2014 issused book OUT on which he works more than 4 years 

 2015 issued book Anton Srholec – Bezdomovec z povolana

 2020 issued book IN  on whitch he works more than 6 years

 https://dennikn.sk/1956765/v-objati-estetiky-cudnosti/?fbclid=IwAR3-Wn2aZnYr3MXUfjTMXayIzzqeeZ3Z7yFI5IRWX0KwaALEo8zCKlLUQtk 

 Denník N: https://dennikn.sk/1961446/bytosti-temna-a-okraja-fotograf-matus-zajac-sa-ponoril-do-bizarnych-svetov/?fbclid=IwAR1S68ZCE0956juuzCaa4W6qiopEChkUc8JBfPdGn9TIr5mk5hiwr1nigIk

In web magazine P3 : http://p3.publico.pt/cultura/exposicoes/18628/danca-no-varao-nao-e-striptease?fb_action_ids=10205560270141211&fb_action_types=og.likes 

and http://p3.publico.pt/node/15661?fb_action_ids=10204021758519382&fb_action_types=og.comments 

In garant /redactor by web magazin www.dofoto-magazine.com.

2022 Podcast Schuzky Tomáše Berana - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9AJtbuTbpY

He exhibits his free work in Slovakia, Italy, Germany, the Czech Republic, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, USA, Poland, Egypt, Romania, etc. He works and lives in Bratislava.

Individual exhibitions:  

   .   2023 –  Twin – Mark i´m Back – F-20 – Art of Slovakia

    .   2023 – Cesta k nezávislému životu, Bratislava, Prešov, Banská Bystrica, Piešťany, Žilina

    .  2022 – Portraits – Krajská knižnica Karola Kmeťka Nitra, Slovakia

   .  2019 – Paradoxes of Life, Gallery of the Slovak Press Photo Foundation, Bratislava 

    .  2018 – OUT  – Renaissance castle,  Galanta, Slovakia

    .  2017 – Vatican, (the art of spirit) – Jesuit chapel, Piešťany, Slovakia

  • 2016 – Antonio Srholec,  (the art of spirit) – Jesuit chapel, Piešťany, Slovakia
  • 2014 - Someones born to see the light, someone pass to endless night, Gallery Velryba,  Prague, Czech republic
  • 2012 - Kenya – Night of museums and galleries, Central European House of Photography, Bratislava, Slovakia
  • 2012 - Pozrime sa Afrike do očí (look into Africa's eyes, Jazz Caffe, Nitra, Slovakia
  • 2012 – Forms of Faith – Dom Quo Vadis, Bratislava, Slovakia
  • 2011 - Slovak minority in Bihor, Bucharest, Romania
  • 2011 - Slovak minority in Romania, Cluj, Romania
  • 2011 - City Confrontations, Gallery of Topoľčany
  • 2011 - Krajina tvárí (The land of faces), Gallery of Dom umenia, Piešťany
  • 2011 - City Confrontations, KGCA - Manor-house Oščadnica, Čadca
  • 2010 - City Confrontations, 4th European month of photography, Berlin 2010 (MdF 2010)
  • 2009 – Krajina tvárí (The land of faces), Pálfyho palác, Zámocká street, Bratislava
  • 2008 - Forms of Faith, Nitra Gallery, Nitra
  • 2007 - Citia e paesaggio, Cineclub, Rome
  • 2004 - Forms of Faith, Quo Vadis, Bratislava
  • 2004 - Wege und Kreuzungen, Slovak Institute, Berlin
  • 2003 - Diploma thesis The Berlin Crossroads, VŠVU, Bratislava
  • 2000 - Bachelor thesis Slovaks living in Romania, VŠVU, Bratislava
  • 1995 - Slovakia, Center of Culture Rača, Bratislava
  • 1994 - Jazz@Rock, Center of culture Ružinov, Bratislava
  • 1993 - Slovakia in photography, Center of Culture Ružinov, Bratislava

Group exhibitions (Selection):

    . 2024 - Inside, Central European House of Photography, Bratislava

    . 2023 - Šumiacky FotoFest, Šumiac Slovakia

    . 2023 – INSIDE, Gallery A. M. Bazovského, Trenčín 

   . 2022 – Marián Varga in photographs by Czech-Slovak artist, Danubiana  Art Museum, BA

   . 2022 – Art of Slovakia

    .  2022 – Portraits ( Tribute to Tibor Huszár ), Mestské múzeum Senec, Slovakia

    .  2021 – Portraits , Gallery 7AS Trnava

    .  2019 – Six stories from the history of photography 1839-2019 / Portrait - Curator, BA

     .  2019 – Fetishes of Today, Nitriansa galéria, Nitra Slovakia

   . 2018 –  Following The Cross  – Synagóga, Trnava, Slovakia

  • 2017 –  Norway Ice land Slovakia / Festival umenia bez hraníc , Bratislava
  • 2016 – Re/Migrácia obrazu – Central European House of Photography, Bratislava
  • 2016 – Czech Press Photo , Staroměstská radnice, Prague, Czech republic
  • 2015 - Czech Press Photo – The Best of Czech Press Photo 20 years, Month of Photography , Bratislava, Slovakia
  • 2015 – Slovak Press Photo – Sport, Bratislava, Slovakia
  • 2015 – Slovak Press Photo – NY, Slovakia institut, USA
  • 2014 – Slovak Press Photo –  Everyday life  3rd prize for photo " Antonio Srholec " (At the edge), Bratislava
  • 2014 – Following The Cross – Slovenské národné múzeum - Spišské múzeum  Levoča, Slovakia
  • 2014 – Part without participation –  Gallery Medium, Bratislava,  Slovakia
  • 2014 – Slovak Press Photo – portrait: 3rd prize for photo "Na pokraji" (At the edge), Slovak Institute in Moscow, Russia.
  • 2014 – Following The Cross, Gallery – Dom Fotografie, Liptovský Mikuláš, Slovakia.
  • 2013 –  Czech Press Photo –  Nature and Environment 1nd prize for "ZOO Workers" essay , Staroměstská radnice (Old Town hall), Prague , Czech republic.
  • 2013 – Slovak Press Photo – sport: 1rd prize for photo "Boxing club" (At the edge), Bratislava, Slovakia. 
  • 2013 – Variations II – Matúš Zajac, Jindřich Štreit, Andrej Lojan , Malá synagóga, Galéria – Trnava, Slovakia
  • 2013 – Press prize 2012 – No comment, Open gallery Bratislava, Slovakia
  • 2013 – Czech Press Photo – art: 2nd prize for "Šapitó" essay , Dom umenia, Bratislava, Slovakia
  • 2012 – Czech Press Photo – art: 2nd prize for "Šapitó" essay , Staroměstská radnice (Old Town hall), Prague
  • 2012 – Slovak Press Photo – portrait: 3rd prize for photo "Na pokraji" (At the edge), Bratislava
  • 2012 – Variations I – Matúš Zajac, Jindřich Štreit, Andrej Lojan – West bastion of Zvolen castle, Slovakia
  • 2012 – Fotografia Europea 2012, Reggio nell Emilia, Italy
  • 2012 - Umenie Ducha (the art of spirit)– Jesuit chapel, Piešťany, Slovakia
  • 2012 - Marginesy - Old ZPAF gallery, Warsaw, Polando
  • 2012 – V4 Press photo - Museum of islamic pottery in Cairo, Egypt
  • 2012 – Press prize 2011 – No comment, Open gallery Bratislava, Slovakia
  • 2012 – Press prize 2011 awarded fo best reportage photography – HoPe essay
  • 2011 - Phos / Matúš Zajac, Laco Maďar, Michal Fulier, Andrej Lojan / and Fero Guldan: Stations of the Cross – now and here, St. Elisabeth Cathedral, Košice
  • 2011 - Youthful Medium, Dom umenia (House of art), Bratislava
  • 2011 - Czech Press Photo 2011, Staroměstská radnice (Old Town hall), Prague
  • 2011 - On The Margin of Society, Luxembourg
  • 2011 - Phos – Premeny (Metamorphoses) / Matúš Zajac, Michal Fulier, Andrej Lojan, Laco Maďar / Gallery G4, Cheb, Czech republic
  • 2011 - No Comment (nominee for press photo of year 2010), Open Gallery, Bratislava / Gallery Praha
  • 2011 - Pre-view, 20 years of VŠVU, Gallery GAMU, Prague, Czech republic
  • 2011 - Phos – Premeny (Metamorphoses) / Matúš Zajac, Michal Fulier, Andrej Lojan, Laco Maďar / Gallery GUS, Spišská Nová Ves
  • 2011 - Phos – Premeny (Metamorphoses) / Matúš Zajac, Michal Fulier, Andrej Lojan, Laco Maďar / Central European House of Photography, Bratislava
  • 2010/2011 - Czech Press Photo 2010, Old Town hall (Staroměstská radnice), Prague, Czech republic
  • 2010 - (IN)VISIBLE TO EYES, Reflexion of christianity in modern art, Bratislava House of art (Dom umenia)
  • 2010 - PRE-VIEW - 20 YEARS OF CHAIR OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND NEW MEDIA, National gallery in Banská Bystrica
  • 2010 - No Comment (press photo of the year 2009), Open Gallery, Bratislava
  • 2009 - FomaFotoFest, Topoľčianky castle
  • 2009 - V kružnici M.Z., Gallery MaxArt in shopping centre MAX, Nitra
  • 2009 - No Comment (press photo of the year 2008), Open Gallery, Bratislava
  • 2008 - Parliaments for citizens and for Europe, Brussel
  • 2008 - No Comment (nominee for press photo of year 2007), Open Gallery, Bratislava
  • 2006 - Rock-Pop-Jazz in photography, Katov dom, Trenčín
  • 2006 - Rock-Pop-Jazz in photography, club Delta, Prague
  • 2005 - Rock-Pop-Jazz in photography, Center of Culture Dúbravka, Bratislava
  • 2005 - Rock-Pop-Jazz in photography, Katov dom, Trenčín
  • 2005 - Rovnými nohami (Zajac, Šimánek, Tuma), Gallery G4, Cheb
  • 2005 - Subjektives im Objektiv Fotorundgang mit den zehn neuen EU-Ländern, Tucher, Berlin
  • 2004 - Roma – Stand und Land, Die Gruppe 'Auf geraden Binen', studio im hochhaus, Berlin
  • 2004 - Group Rovnými nohami, Gallery Profil, Bratislava
  • 2004 - Rock-Pop-Jazz, Hotel Holiday, Bratislava
  • 2004 - Rock-Pop-Jazz, Katov dom, Trenčín
  • 2002 - From my point of view, Museum of Gemer and Malohont region, Rimavská Sobota
  • 2002 - Spiritual life of East European countries, Strasbourg
  • 2002 - Three workshops / Passing messages, Gallery Medium, Bratislava
  • 2000 - Exhibition of Students of VŠVU, Gallery at Hlinka Sq., Žilina
  • 1999 - Exhibition of Students of Department of Photography VŠVU, Gallery Medium, Bratislava
  • 1998 - Internationaler Photosalon Musik-Tanz, Burghausen
  • 1989 - Internationaler Photosalon Musik-Tanz, Burghausen
  • 1989 - Revolution, Gallery Kafé, Bratislava

 

Matúš Zajac / 1971 /. Umelecké vzdelanie získal na pražskej FAMU a VŠVU v Bratislave, kde sa plne venoval dokumentárnej fotografii v ateliéri profesora Ľuba Stacha. Štúdium ukončil v roku 2003. Autor vedome prepája sociálny dokument s výtvarnými prvkami.

Pracuje na dlhoročných sociálno spoločenských súboroch dotýkajúcich sa aj psychologickej roviny do vnútra mentálnej expresie v obraze. Spolupracuje s vydavateľstvami a časopismi ako sú napr. .týždeň, Vydavateľstvo Limerick, Vydavateľstvo Michala Vaška, Vydavateľstvo Kalligram, Dumont, PolyGram, BMG, AB40, Im Berlín, atď.

Od roku 2003 – 2017 bol fotografom  NR SR a od vzniku obrazového týždenníka .týždeň 2005 – 2017 bol kmeňovým fotografom.

 Od roku 2007 – 2016  spolupracoval ako lektor dokumentárnej fotografie s Domom fotografie v Bratislave . Momentálne vedie svoje workshopy orientujúce sa na dokumentárnu fotografiu a pripravuje študentov na prijímacie skúšky a úspešné absolvovanie fotografických súťaží. Od roku 2009/2013 bol pedagógom žurnalistickej fotografie na katedre žurnalistiky Katolíckej univerzity v Ružomberku a od roku 2011 je  pedagógom na katedre žurnalistiky, Filozofickej fakulty Univerzity Komenského v Bratislave. Od roku 2019 je pedagógom na Paneurópskej vysokej škole na Fakulte masmédii. Od roku 2017 je pedagógom fotografie na Súkromnej škole umeleckého priemyslu animovanej tvorby. 

V roku 2016 získal cenu na Czech press Photo „ Cena Nadácie Olgy Havlové“ Môj život s handikapom za sériu fotografii Z osobnej tragédie ku pomoci druhým a v roku 2013 získal na Czech Press Photo prvú cenu v kategórii Príroda a životné prostredie za esej ZOO Workers a na Slovak Press Photo získal prvú cenu  v kategórii šport za esej Boxing Club ako aj  v roku 2012 získal na Czech Press Photo druhú cenu v kategórii Umenie a zábava za esej Šapitó  a na Slovak Press Photo tretiu cenu v kategórii Portrét. Na Slovak Press Photo získal aj v roku 2014 tretie miesto v kategórii Každodený život a v roku 2015 čestné uznanie v kategórii Šport .

 V roku 2012 získal novinársku cenu za najlepšiu fotoreportáž za esej HoPe za rok 2011. Bol aj nominovaný v kategórii najlepšia novinárska fotografia za roky  2007, 2010 , 2011 a 2012.

Autorove fotografie uverejnené v časopise .týždeň boli ocenené v obrazovom editovaní prvým a tretím miestom v súťaži The best of Photojournalizm 2011 a 2013 čestnou cenou.

V roku 2011 vydal svoju prvu autorskú knihu Podoby viery na ktorej pracoval 20 rokov. V roku 2014 vydal svoju druhú autorskú knižku Mimo / OUT a v roku 2015 spoločne s Pištom Vandalom Chrappom vydali knižku Anton Srholec – Bezdomovec z povolania. V roku 2020 vydal svoju štvrtú autorskú knihu IN.

 Recenzia: https://dennikn.sk/1956765/v-objati-estetiky-cudnosti/?fbclid=IwAR3-Wn2aZnYr3MXUfjTMXayIzzqeeZ3Z7yFI5IRWX0KwaALEo8zCKlLUQtk

Denník N: https://dennikn.sk/1961446/bytosti-temna-a-okraja-fotograf-matus-zajac-sa-ponoril-do-bizarnych-svetov/?fbclid=IwAR1S68ZCE0956juuzCaa4W6qiopEChkUc8JBfPdGn9TIr5mk5hiwr1nigIk 

Pravidelne vystavuje svoju voľnú tvorbu ( Slovensko,Taliansko, Nemecko, Česká republika, Francúzko, Holandsko, Belgicko, Luxembursko, USA, Poľsko,Egypt, Rumunsko atď). Žije a tvorí v Bratislave.