Welcome to the portfolio of Matt Deifer. Matt is a multidimensional artist whose work spans fine art, photography, bodypainting, and immersive environments. His projects have appeared at festivals, museums, on television, and in international print media.
He’s available for commissions, creative direction, exhibitions, and select collaborations, with original art for acquisition.
Browse the galleries to explore the full range of his work, or scroll for highlights from across his practice.
FINE ART CREATED FOR CONTEMPORARY SPACES
Deifer works across mediums to create immersive visual experiences that live in the body, on the wall, and in the moment. These pieces reflect his ongoing exploration of how color, form, and ritual can shift perception and reshape the way people experience space.
CAMPAIGN IMAGERY FOR GLOBAL ARTISTS
Commissioned to bodypaint the members of Animal Collective for a surprise publicity stunt, Matt created the bodypaint tableau that became the visual lead for the secret Painting With album release. The band premiered the record over the airport loudspeakers on Thanksgiving Eve at Baltimore/Washington International Airport, one of the busiest travel days of the year. The image was featured in Rolling Stone, Spin, Pitchfork and other major outlets, and it later served as the artwork for the band’s worldwide tour poster.
LIVING ART FOR HIGH-END EVENTS
This look was created for a Flow Life mansion event in Bel‑Air, designed to bring a sense of presence and atmosphere to the night. The winged bodypaint and ornate headpiece turned the model into a living centerpiece that moved naturally through the space, adding a refined and memorable presence. This work shows how painted performers can elevate an event by creating immersive moments that feel intentional, artistic, and tailored to a luxury atmosphere.
BODY POSITIVITY AND DESEXUALIZATION OF NUDITY THROUGH PUBLIC PROTEST
For six years, Matt served as co‑organizer of the Philly Naked Bike Ride, part of a global protest movement that uses nudity as a tool for body positivity, cycling advocacy, and public visibility.
In the peak year, his team of more than fifty volunteers helped paint over a thousand participants at the pre‑ride meetup, and more than six hundred took part in his Jackson Pollock Creation Station, a live art experience sponsored by Wildfire FX.
The events drew thousands of riders, multiple rounds of international press, and a massive public audience, and remained incident‑free throughout his involvement.
This work reflects his commitment to using art, community, and public space to challenge stigma and reclaim the body as something natural and human.
STUDIO PORTRAITS WITH CINEMATIC PRESENCE
His cinematic studio portraits are shaped with precise, intentional lighting, including the image that earned him official recognition from Profoto as a Light Shaper. The recognition included new lighting tools and a feature in their artist‑story series, reflecting the craft behind the work.
These portraits are created for artists, creatives, and campaigns seeking visuals with presence.
HAND-PAINTED IDENTITY PACKAGES
Created at a pivotal moment in the evolution of Lotus, this ten panel hand painted identity system became the visual foundation of The Strength of Weak Ties. The artwork shaped the look of the band’s first fully sold-out tour and defined the public face of the album that marked their breakthrough. Every element of the release used these paintings, including the album packaging, the website visuals, and the tour poster, which created a unified visual world during a major turning point in the rise of Lotus. The album remained sold out for years, and the recent limited edition vinyl reissue sold out immediately, which shows the lasting impact of this painted identity and the era it helped define.
LIVE BODYPAINT ACTIVATIONS FOR EVENTS
He creates live bodypaint activations for festivals, private events, and brand experiences, offering guests the chance to become part of the artwork. Brands like Everything Legendary book him for a set number of hours, during which he paints anyone who wants to participate at no cost to them.
The result is a constantly evolving environment where people step into the experience, the energy shifts as more bodies transform, and the event takes on a visual identity unique to that moment. This work blends artistry, performance, and hospitality, bringing living art directly into public spaces.
BODYPAINT FOR NATIONAL TV COMMERCIALS
Deifer was hired to create all the bodypainting, hair, and makeup for a national ESPN and Applebee’s Monday Night Football commercial featuring five different football superfans. The project included painting a full jersey onto a Seahulk‑inspired character, designing bold team‑themed looks, and delivering camera‑ready results under fast‑turnaround conditions. The shoot took place at an Applebee’s location in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, and the commercial aired nationally throughout the 2014 season. This work reflects his ability to bring character‑driven concepts to life on set, collaborate with production teams, and create high‑impact bodypaint for broadcast‑level campaigns.
RUNWAY & RED CARPET MOMENTS
For LA Fashion Week in Beverly Hills, he created a full gallery installation beside the red carpet and painted his model live in front of the crowd. Guests watched the transformation as part of the event experience, and the finished work stepped directly onto the red carpet under professional lighting with a full media line photographing the moment. This category reflects the way his work operates in public spaces where art, fashion, and performance converge in real time and in front of an audience.
HIGH‑VOLUME FINE ART STUDIO WORK
Matt Deifer worked closely with Paul Stanley, the rock legend and frontman of KISS and a top‑selling living painter, in his Los Angeles fine‑art studio. There he supported the creation of mixed‑media paintings, hand‑painted 3D floral sculptures and vases, custom guitars, and large‑scale canvas works.
The role demanded precision, trust, and the ability to handle detailed work under tight timelines.
All pieces from this period were exhibited and sold exclusively through Wentworth Galleries nationwide, giving him invaluable firsthand experience in professional fine‑art production and the rhythm of a high‑output studio environment.