was born 1887 in Aachen, Germany and studied sculpture at the Technical University Aachen with Prof. Kraus and painting with Prof. Klinkenberg. He continued his studies at the University of Art in Berlin and became a student of Lovis Corinth and a masterstudent of Arthur Kampf.
From 1920 onwards he worked as an independent sculptor. In 1931 he became a professor at the art academy of Duesseldorf. But already two years later he was fired by the Nazis as his work was deemed degenerate.
1945 he was called back again to his position and continued to teach until his retirement in 1957. In the following years he worked as an independent artist. He died 1965 in Buederich.
Matare's special interest was the depiction of humans and animals in a to an original form reduced stylisation and simplification. Apart from finely polished wood he also worked with copper and bronze. He became known worldwide through big international commissions like the bronze doors for the south entry of the dome of Cologne, the copper doors for the church for world peace in Hiroshima and a door for the townhall of Aachen among others.