Matthew Koster (b. 1993, BA Visual Communication, Open Window Institute)
Matthew Koster was born in 1993 in Middelburg, South Africa, and currently lives and works in the Lowveld. His creative journey began at a young age, evolving through multiple disciplines including music, design, and fine art. After matriculating from Nelspruit High School in 2011, he pursued his passion for music at the Campus of Performing Arts, where he qualified with an NQF 5 in Guitar in 2015. During this period, he performed in several local bands before turning his focus to visual creativity.
In 2016, Matthew enrolled at Open Window Institute, majoring in Graphic Design and Illustration. What began with traditional artistic mediums soon developed into a deep passion for illustration, which in turn informed his design sensibility. He strives to create something beautiful rather than what is simply needed. With this approach, he explored the Adobe suite and expanded his creative ability — leading him to the belief that form and function are one and the same. Each part, he notes, should be explored as an element that complements and works within the other to form a single, cohesive entity, ultimately creating a successful design, illustration, or work of art.
Since 2017, Matthew has worked professionally as a designer and illustrator under the alias Lazy River, collaborating with both local and international brands. His portfolio spans editorial illustration, poster design, and commercial work. He has exhibited illustrated posters at various galleries and has been featured in Color Bloc Magazine in relation to design and fashion. His creative practice also includes contributions to the local comic book Art & Life.
In 2020, Matthew expanded into mural painting, collaborating with prominent South African muralists such as Johnny Allison. That same year, he began attending Carl Jeppe’s monthly figure drawing sessions at Scouts Hall, where he refined his technical skill and developed a strong appreciation for the human form. He later joined the Lowveld Figure Drawing Community, a space that has continued to nurture his artistic voice.
Immersed in music, art, and creative collaboration, Matthew continues to evolve as a multidisciplinary artist whose work bridges design, illustration, and fine art — celebrating the beauty of form, the harmony of function, and the emotional depth of human expression.
“I developed a love for drawing the human form and have recently joined the Lowveld Figure Drawing community. This has led me down a beautiful path of lines and colours finding my voice within the realm of art. I define my work as bold, colourful and personal. I am inspired by the natural world and the human condition.” - Matthew Koster
