Matthew Deibert

Matthew Deibert was born and raised in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Living close to the beaches, Matthew spent many days playing in the sand. As a child Matthew showed an interest for the arts. Living close to the beach, and number 7 of 8 children, family trips to the beach were frequent.

Sand was a medium readily available and affordable. Sandcastles, large decorative walls, tunnels and motes were some of his favorites. Through the school years he returned to the beaches, abandoning sand as an art form, but to serve the public along the beach as an Atlantic City lifeguard. It was the birth of his first son Ian and their early trips to the beach that sparked a new relationship enjoying the sand. This enjoyment transformed into a passion after studying the Art of sand sculpture and discovering the history of sand sculpture and its connection with Atlantic City. At present Matthew holds a BA from Mercyhurst University with an emphasis in Graphic Design. He is a retired Atlantic City Firefighter Captain, where he met John Gowdy, who was very influential in his sand career. Matthew is married with six children. His two oldest sons, Ian and Matt Jr. have joined him on the sand pile. He is the creator and owner of SandCreation, LLC. He has been competing and working with sand professionally since 1999. During his free time, he can usually be found with family and friends on the New Jersey Shore. He also enjoys playing golf…one place where he tries to stay out of the sand.

Matthew has worked with other sculptors, some of the large events are: Beach Fest Atlantic City, Super Bowl Tampa Fl., Bloomberg Manhattan, NY, Sun Fun Fest Myrtle Beach, SC, Grand Opening South Carolina Aquarium, Summer Fest Winter Haven, Fl., World Record Attempt Wildwood, NJ, Schenectady NY, The White House Commission on Remembrance “ Sands of Remembrance” 60th Anniversary D-Day, Omaha Beach, Normandy, France, Wawa Welcome America in Philadelphia, Atlantic City Beerfest and Downbeach Seafood fest, Margate Beachstock, Somers Point Bayfest, Tropicana Casino and Ocean Casino.

Matthew has competed in solo and team events. Some of his honors were: 3rd Place team-Expo Cite Quebec 2000, 1st Place team-Expo Cite Quebec 2001with John Gowdy, 2nd Place solo Old Orchard Beach, ME 2001, Peoples Choice World Championship-Solo Harrison BC Canada 2001, 3rd Place Solo North American Championship Virginia Beach VA 2001, 3rd Place solo-Expo Cite Quebec 2002, and 1st Place-Team World Championship Harrison BC Canada 2002 with Karen Fralich, 1st Place team North American Championship Virginia Beach VA 2003, 2nd Place Solo North American Championship Virginia Beach, VA 2004, 2nd Place Team-Expo Cite Quebec 2005.1st Place New Jersey Championship 2007 & 2008. He competed on “Sand Blasters 2007”and 2008, it was shown on the Travel Channel. 2nd place Solo 2011 North American Championship. Winner of “Sand Wars” with Ian Deibert, March 2012 featured on the Travel Channel. In 2018, the father and son team won “People’s Choice” at the Virginia Beach International Championships.

Ian Deibert

Ian Deibert was born and raised in southern New Jersey where he spent his childhood on the beach with his family. It was here that he was introduced to the art of sand sculpting by his father, and after a childhood of forced labor in the sand-apprenticing trenches of New Jersey beaches, he earned a BA in Graphic Design from Liberty University in 2013. Since then, he has worked in many different art mediums, including design, illustration, sculpture and film. His professional sand career has included competing in the Travel Channel show Sand Wars twice (winning in 2013 with his father), earning a People’s Choice award at the Neptune International Sand Festival in 2018 and a 3rd Place award at the Siesta Key Crystal Classic in 2021. However, when it's time to go home and pay the bills, he works for a countertop fabrication company. Ian is married and is a proud father of four beautiful children, Rose, Callum, Oliver & Finnegan.”