About Us:
The Story of ArtBook Garden AS
Who are we? A small, family-run independent publishing house and art studio that has taken root in the picturesque Norwegian town of Grimstad. We are a duo: Matej Gábriš, a graphic artist and top expert in prepress and printing technologies (with a passion for the finest security design details), and Henrieta Gábrišová, an art historian, librarian, and writer. Both of us have dedicated our lives to art: from fine art and illustration to creating artist's books, writing, and curating. ArtBook Garden is the materialization of our shared world, where precise craftsmanship meets deep art theory.
What do we create? Our studio is a laboratory of visual art. We focus primarily on artist's books, fine art prints, and the production of collectible art notes under our trademarked brand GABRISNOTE®. It is vital to us that every piece leaving our studio possesses its own original visual language and a precise historical or cultural context.
Why Norway and where are we heading? Even after moving here to the North, we wanted to continue writing, creating, illustrating, and living through what we do best. Grimstad has provided us not only with a new home but also with incredible creative peace. Our vision for the future is to gradually build collaborations with other artists, illustrators, and authors across Norway. Scandinavian book and visual culture is absolutely fascinating—raw and poetic at the same time—and we are immensely looking forward to exploring it further and connecting it with our Central European roots.
Matej Gábriš
Graphic designer, artist, and founder of the studio.
He has been developing his passion for creating security documents and his proprietary artistic concept since the late 1980s. Today, he is an internationally recognized master of security design and the creator of the acclaimed GABRISNOTE® collectible banknotes concept, whose works are held by collectors worldwide, as well as representatives of national banks and museums.
Alongside this highly specialized printing creation, he passionately devotes himself to traditional printmaking techniques, particularly hand-carved linocut, and the creation of artist's books. In his studio, he combines uncompromising craftsmanship with an admiration for printing technologies and history.
Mgr. Henrieta Gábrišová, PhD.
Art historian, information specialist, and publicist.
At Artbook Garden, she acts as the expert eye, PR and marketing manager, and content writer. Her work focuses on the intersection of architecture, fine arts, and contemporary society. She closely follows cultural developments and events in her home region of Sørlandet, Norway, and contributes essays and reviews to the blog, seamlessly bridging theory and practice.
Thanks to her base in Grimstad and her active collaboration with the Slovak and Czech academic and cultural environments (including the platform Citace.com, where she works as a sales representative and lecturer), she serves as a cultural bridge between the Scandinavian and Central European scenes. Drawing on her extensive experience in publishing houses and libraries, she passionately seeks new partnerships, communicates with authors and the public, and manages copyrights. She ensures that behind every project nurtured within ArtBook Garden, one can see not only a perfect visual form but also its unique story and "roots." She writes, draws, and manages social media channels.