We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alejandra Matiz. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alejandra below.

Alejandra, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I think the first time I truly knew I wanted to pursue a creative path was when I realized that drawing and storytelling were more than just hobbies for me—they were my way of understanding the world. As a child, I spent hours filling notebooks, drawing my favorite characters from movies, books, and TV, alongside my own characters, animals, and imagined worlds. Books and illustrations fascinated me because they had the power to transform the ordinary into something magical.

The moment it became clear that this wasn’t just something I loved, but something I wanted to dedicate my life to, came during high school. I began taking art classes at a small academy near my home, which opened a new world of possibilities and gave me the chance to explore different techniques. At first, I thought I would study Fine Arts, but pursuing an artistic career in Colombia, where I was born, is a difficult choice—especially coming from a low–middle-class family. On top of that, illustration as a professional degree simply didn’t exist in Colombia at that time, so the closest path to develop those skills while also earning a bachelor’s degree was Graphic Design.

From there, I gained experience working across different industries and styles. Yet even while working on brand projects, I always found myself returning to illustration—taking on freelance projects or creating personal work. Still, as often happens in adulthood, I felt my artistic dreams becoming blurry. Even though I was working in a great company doing good work, I knew I needed to reconnect with my true artistic voice. That’s what led me to pursue my M.A. in Illustration at SCAD—to fully embrace this path and grow as both a storyteller and a visual artist.

Looking back, I realize it wasn’t a single “lightbulb” moment, but rather a series of experiences that made me understand creativity was not just something I did for fun—it was where I felt most alive, where I could communicate most authentically, and where I could make the strongest impact.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Alejandra Matiz, though I often sign my work as Matiba. I’m an illustrator and graphic designer from Colombia, currently pursuing my M.A. in Illustration at SCAD in Savannah, Georgia. My path has always been about telling stories visually, blending my background in graphic design with my passion for illustration.

Storytelling has always been at the heart of my work. Over the years, I’ve collaborated with brands, publishers, and creative teams on projects ranging from editorial and children’s publishing to advertising and pre-production for motion. What I offer isn’t just images, it’s visual storytelling that brings ideas to life—whether that means making a children’s book magical, giving a brand a unique voice, or helping shape characters for motion and animation.

What sets me apart is the way I combine a strong design foundation with a distinctive illustrative voice. I often mix traditional and digital media such as acrylics, inks, colored pencils, and digital layers, which gives my work both warmth and flexibility. My style plays with geometric shapes, bold color, and texture, always grounded in narrative and emotion.

I’m especially proud of projects that connect with culture and people, like illustrations inspired by Latin American myths or everyday circumstances that feel universally relatable. These remind me why I chose this path: because illustration has the power to inspire, to cross cultural boundaries, and to make people feel seen.

Above all, I want clients and followers to know that my work is about more than visuals. It’s about creating stories that resonate, feel authentic, and truly serve their purpose.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the chance to do what I love while experiencing the world through a different lens. Art has taught me to slow down and notice things that often go unnoticed in the rush of daily life, like the colors of flowers, the unique beauty of animals, or the subtle details in nature. These small moments become sources of wonder and inspiration.

Being an artist has also made me more empathetic. It allows me to connect with my surroundings in a deeper way, to value different perspectives, and to translate those experiences into creative work. In that sense, being an artist is not only about creating, it’s about cultivating sensitivity, awareness, and gratitude for the world around me.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I believe society can support artists by recognizing that creative careers are valid, valuable, and essential. Too often, artists depend on algorithms or fleeting online trends to be seen, which limits opportunities for authentic voices to thrive. Providing fair working conditions, equitable pay, and platforms that highlight the quality of work rather than visibility would make a huge difference.

At the same time, it’s important to embrace innovation without losing what makes creativity human. New technologies, like AI, can be nice tools if used to reduce repetitive or mechanical tasks, freeing artists to focus on the meaningful and imaginative aspects of their craft. What we should avoid is replacing the very heart of what we love doing—in my case, illustrating.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://matiba.co/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matiba.ilu?igsh=MWVxM2dyd2ZkY2Q1YQ==
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alejandra-matiz-tibavizco

Image Credits

“Jessica Márquez” Direction and Design: Book and Play Studios (@bapstudio.co), Illustration: Alejandra Matiz (@matiba.ilu)