Meet Jeff Mathias
Jeff is an artist, maritime industry professional, and long-time resident of Tilghman Island, Maryland, where he balances family life, a thriving maritime business, and his creative work at the Wharf Road art studio.
As a master captain and light-commercial diver, Jeff has spent much of his life in, on, and under the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. His deep connection to the water is reflected in his artwork, which spans multiple mediums, including graphite drawings, photography, and sculpture.
Jeff’s work is rooted in the maritime culture of the Eastern Shore, capturing the essence of working watermen’s villages, historic boats, and the sea itself. His photography has evolved from traditional documentary-style images of coastal life to composite photography that brings new narratives to abandoned vessels, restoring the human presence to their forgotten stories.
His sculptural work is dedicated to the study of the Eastern Oyster shell, with hand-built pieces crafted from domestic porcelain—some represented on a massive scale.
Jeff earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi, where he studied under the renowned artist and educator Dr. Jon Whittington. His formal training included art history, figure drawing, painting, printmaking, three-dimensional design, and fine art photography.
After graduation, Jeff set out to restore a 32-foot wooden sailboat (circa 1949) on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. Initially planning only a short stay to complete repairs before sailing south, he instead found a home on Tilghman Island, where he built his career, fell in love, and raised a family.
Today, Jeff continues to explore and interpret the beauty of the Chesapeake Bay’s maritime heritage through his art. His studio on Wharf Road, once the gateway to the historic Tilghman Packing Co., is open by appointment.
Explore Jeff’s artwork or schedule a visit to his studio [here].