About

The career of Martin Machaj began in Paris, where he lived and worked from 1995. There the Slovak artist discovered a natural ability to express emotion, passion and ideas through the lens. Further studies took Martin to New York, where he developed the unique, signature style of capturing images with heart, soul and meaning.

His fascination with exotic locales, people and customs took him around the world and back again. Martin felt compelled to share these extraordinary experiences and connections with the world, which he had the great fortune to appreciate during his travels.

From the dangerous climate in South Sudan to the explosive-tempered tribes of Papua New Guinea, Martin traversed deserts, swamps and tundra, to connect with indigenous clans, in some of the most remote places on the planet. Places which are not easily accessible, and so few left which remain untouched by our modern world.

The artist’s latest project, “The Last Survivors,” features natives who still embrace tradition through song, dance and costume. Cultures which still worship medicine men, facial tattoos and lip plates over iPhones. Customs which are rapidly disappearing, day by day. “The Last Survivors” is the photographer’s Herculean effort to preserve this dying art through image.

The artist latest other project, “Woman,” took 20 years to complete. Here, his lens is focused on some of the most beautiful women in the world, in some of the most extraordinary locations. All of the professional models featured in “Woman,” reign from the countries where their images were taken. These images do not simply hallmark superficial nakedness, rather, they capture a moment in time of the expressive, artistic connection between body and nature. A connection between woman and Mother Earth.

Martin’s fascination with performing arts brought to life a highly lyrical project Story Teller. He presents his interpretation and perception of classical stories by world greatest authors, with participation of professional ballet dancers and theatre actors.

Martin is grateful for the gift of every being who shared some of the most unforgettable moments with him, and gave of themselves to the rest of the world, through his work. Despite monumental differences in body, mind and value, putting aside belief, culture and custom, Martin discovered through his incredible journeys…we are all the same. We all see the same sun, moon and stars. We all want to enjoy a good meal, a good night’s sleep and to feel loved and appreciated. If we’re lucky, we all have eyes to see the world, arms to embrace one another and exactly the same skeletons underneath it all.

We are all connected.

We are all beautiful.

We all belong to tribes.

And as our own worldwide resources dwindle and continue to disappear, with population on the rise and a feverish demand…in the end, we will all become,

“The Last Survivors.”