Branko Matina was born on March 21, 1960, in Hlebine, a village in Podravina known for over eight decades as a center of Croatian naive art. He developed a passion for painting early on and began to dedicate himself to it intensively in 1972. He works primarily in the traditional oil-on-glass technique typical of the Hlebine School and received support in his early years from prominent figures of the school such as Franjo Filipović and Milan Generalić. Matina is known for his poetic landscapes, often winter scenes or depictions of the four seasons, characterized by bright pastel tones, harmonious compositions, and an expressive, direct painting style. He has dedicated his entire life to art; as he himself says, he has never worked outside of it, as he lives from his painting.
His works depict authentic landscapes, a lyrical atmosphere, and a rich color palette.