John Gowdy & Matt Deibert
John is an Atlantic City, NJ artist. He sculpts sand, marble, and paints for audiences around the world. He attended Stockton University and majored in both Fine Arts and Physics. Both of which have come in very useful in his life as an artist. John is a retired firefighter having served 27 years in the fire department of Atlantic City. He earned the rank of Captain and was in charge of the Special Operations and Hazardous Materials teams. He previously worked as a beach lifeguard for 7 years in Atlantic City. John has been sculpting sand for more than 35 years. He has a sand sculpture company "Sand Sculptures by John Gowdy & Company". He has worked for clients such as Good Morning America, The Travel Channel, The White House, Martha Stewart, and Pope Francis in the Vatican. "I believe you cannot stand still in the arts. You must keep evolving as an artist while experimenting with new ideas and techniques. One medium or technique complements another. Always press forward with your eyes wide open finding your way own way.
This is the life of a true artist." Founded in 2017 by Matthew Deibert, a native of Atlantic City, NJ – the birthplace of professional sand sculpting – Sand creation is a testament to Matthew’s decades-long dedication to the art of sand sculpting. As a world-champion sand sculptor and professional sand artist since 2000, Matthew has been shaping works of art from sand for all types of events. His passion extends beyond the art itself; he thrives on the performance aspect of sand sculpting, engaging audiences in the creation process and entertaining them with his expertise. In addition to his sand sculpting endeavors, Matthew is pursuing a BA in sculpture at Stockton University, building on his previous BA in graphic design from Mercyhurst University. His extensive 25-year career as a retired professional firefighter, with advanced rescue training and a stint as an acting Battalion Chief, brings a unique skill set to the world of sand sculpting. Sand creation is a family affair, with Matthew’s six children actively involved. Ian, Matthew Jr., and Liam have been carving and competing alongside their father for the past decade. The company has left its artistic imprint around the globe, participating in international competitions and earning accolades, including winning the World Championships and contributing to events like the 60th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, France. The Sand Wars competition, aired on the Travel Channel, showcased the tenacity and skill of Matthew and his oldest son Ian, culminating in them being crowned victors and pushing the plunger to detonate their sculpture. It’s a vivid reminder that, in the world of sand sculpting, every creation is temporary, returning to the beach through natural forces or planned demolitions.