From matchsticks to masterpiece: Croatian artist creating giant Michelangelo sculpture 

(Photo: Tomislav Horvat)

Matchstick sculptures are a unique and impressive art form that requires patience, precision, and creativity.

Matchstick sculptures can be found all over the world, in museums, galleries, and private collections. The end result can be stunning and impressive.

Croatia’s most famous matchstick artist is Tomislav Horvat, who is from Podturen near Čakovec. Tomislav has been interested in creating matchstick sculptures since high school. 

He has already created a number of stunning sculptures, including a a life-size sculptures of Al Pacino as Don Corleone in the Godfather sitting in his iconic armchair, for which he used 117,000 match sticks, and W.A Mozart on the piano, for which he used over 200,000 match sticks.

Tomislav Horvat and his matchstick creation of Al Pacino (photo: Tomislav Horvat)

The process of creating a matchstick sculpture is time-consuming and requires careful planning. 

Tomislav is currently working on his latest masterpiece, which will be his biggest sculpture yet. This sculpture will surpass he previous biggest of Mozart on the piano and he will use 370,000 matchsticks to complete it.

“The sculpture will eventually show Michelangelo working on his David sculpture,” Tomislav tells us, adding that the height of the sculpture is currently 450 cm.

Check out the photos of the sculpture in progress.

(Photo: Tomislav Horvat)

(Photo: Tomislav Horvat)

(Photo: Tomislav Horvat)

(Photo: Tomislav Horvat)

(Photo: Tomislav Horvat)

(Photo: Tomislav Horvat)

“I’ve always been interested in art, eminently Italian Renaissance. I decided to work with matchsticks as they are readily available,” Tomislav told us, adding that he gets his match sticks from local shops.