Striking Creativity with Vintage Matchbook Art

January 2, 2026

Seth Bilkis is transforming vintage matchboxes into vibrant, nostalgic masterpieces that capture the essence of the city’s past and present.

What began as a childhood fascination has evolved into Matchbox 912, a creative venture that blends retro charm with modern flair, featuring current restaurants, bars, and hotels alongside historic gems. Bilkis’s work is a testament to the power of memory, craftsmanship, and a deep love for Savannah’s eclectic spirit.

Bilkis’s journey into matchbox art started with a vivid memory from his Aunt Sue’s New York City apartment, where a large glass fishbowl brimmed with matchbooks collected from an era when every restaurant had its own branded matches. “I always knew growing up that I wanted a glass bowl of matches like her,” he recalls, enchanted by their uniqueness as home decor.

That dream took root when he acquired three collections from a traveling gentleman, inspiring him to see matches as more than keepsakes they became his canvas. His younger brother Joshua, a painter and poet who found success as a vendor in Forsyth Park, further fueled this fire. “His entrepreneurial spirit encouraged me to invest in myself and start Matchbox 912,” Bilkis says.

What sets Bilkis apart is his ability to weave current Savannah establishments into his art, even when vintage matchbooks for them don’t exist. His favorite piece, the Savannah XL, is a stunning map of the city showcasing 75 unique locations from the Historic District to Starland and Tybee. While many are real vintage finds, others are digitally designed matchbooks he crafted for modern spots like Origin, inspired by their coffee bags, and Savoy, reflecting its cocktail allure. “I drew inspiration from logos, branding, colors, and the designs of other matches in my collection,” he explains. The Crab Shack, Clary’s, and Husk join the lineup, each a nod to Savannah’s living culture. “Who am I kidding? I love them all!” he admits with a laugh.

His creative process is meticulous yet playful. It begins with curating matches, sourced from his vast collection or online for specific needs. Chosen for their historical significance, unique graphics, and thematic fit. “I find it delightfully surprising how matches from all over a city can come together and all speak the same design language,” he notes. After arranging them into the perfect composition, he scans the piece with a high quality flatbed scanner, then edits lighting, shadows, and colors to ensure pristine prints. Signed and sealed, they’re ready for new homes.

Working with vintage matches, mostly from the 1950s to early 2000s, comes with challenges. “Some may be used, dirty, worn,” he says, but he embraces their imperfections. Through what he calls “matchbook surgery,” Bilkis revives flattened matchbooks by inserting striker pieces from less exciting ones, breathing 3D life back into them. “Sometimes it takes a little bit of searching and hard work to find the perfect match!” he quips.

Photo by Jacob Edenfield

The response to his art has been a wildfire of enthusiasm. Starting with just 15 pieces during a tough time “in between jobs, low on cash, and [with] a need to create again” Bilkis took a leap of faith. “I had no idea if people would resonate with or even like the art,” he reflects, “but I believed in myself and my idea, and the people loved it!” Now boasting over 60 pieces, his work has struck a chord, especially with the Savannah XL, which went “Savannah viral” on Instagram with 58.6K views. Locals and collectors alike adore it, sharing stories of first dates, weddings, and family vacations tied to the matches. “Unlocking and preserving those memories is one of the most rewarding aspects,” he says.

Bilkis isn’t stopping at framed prints. He’s working on t-shirt designs, including one with a retro matchbox cartoon by local artist Sophie Tompkins, and dreams of themed upholstery, wallpapers, canvas tote bags, and large scale installations. His vision is clear: “The ultimate goal is joy. If you take home a piece of my art… I want it to bring you joy in your space.”

Among his matchbooks, favorites like Miller High Life, The Russian Tea Room, and Savannah’s own Elizabeth’s on 37^th stand out, but his heart lies with the city he’s called home for seven years since attending SCAD. “Savannah is truly a city like no other,” he declares, praising its bike friendly streets, live oak shade, and supportive community. From coffee at Origin to cocktails at Savoy and baseball with the Bananas, he’s woven his love for Savannah into every piece.

You can find Bilkis’s art at www.matchbox912.com, on Instagram @matchbox912, or in person at Forsyth Park’s Saturday market, with prints also at East & Up, The Paris Market, and Charleston’s Candlefish. Through Matchbox 912, Seth Bilkis isn’t just striking matches he’s lighting up Savannah’s past and present, one creative spark at a time.