THE ARTIST

Denis Mathews, our founder, is also the artist behind Matbronze's sculptures. He was born in Kenya, and grew up here, surrounded by the wildness of four brothers and Kenya's natural landscapes.

Denis began his journey in sculpting artwork a little later in life - he studied mechanical engineering at university, harbored an interest for science, physics, tech and sport, and was always fascinated by how things 'worked'.

He also had an entrepreneurial streak. 

Kenya didn't have foundries for casting bronze back in the day, so Denis set to learning everything about metalwork and casting that he could. He mixed liquid silicon rubber to make molds, he experimented with powders to make ceramic, he travelled with heavy suitcases of tools and machinery from all over the world and heaved them back to Kenya to his workshop (which would garner many jokes and laughs from his sporting friends on tour!)

He describes his first ever sculpture (an elephant) as "a little ropey".

But with practice and passion, he began sculpting the plasticine (a sort of wax) into beautiful forms of wild animals and nature. Having a knack for it, he became a fantastic artist, and his pieces became more detailed and beautiful over time.
He onboarded team member by team member to help with the production side - wax-making, casting, grinding and polishing - until the workshop grew into the hustling and bustling casting foundry we know today as Matbronze.

Denis created over 1000 different pieces. These pieces, small and large, became admired by many people all over the world, and in 2024  he would finish his greatest sculpture yet - a life-size elephant, Dida, the Queen Tusker.

At 70 years old, Denis still lives in Kenya and oversees the running of Matbronze - though from afar these days. The next generation is helping out: his daughter, Esenya, and the General Manager, Jamie, have taken on the day-to-day runnings and management of Matbronze - and both harbour an artistic side too. 

Esenya started casting silver jewellery at Matbronze in 2019 at the age of 21, which has become the company now known as Safaria Silver Jewellery - and Jamie, like Denis, has an engineering/tech background with a special knack for sculpting art. He is currently collaborating with Denis on Matbronze's latest sculpture, a life-size female leopard, called "Huntress".

Denis simply can't wait for you to meet her.