Matko Trebotić was born in Milna, on the Island of Brač. He completed the Classical Grammar School in Split, and graduated from the Belgrade Faculty of Architecture in 1961. In 1971 and 1972, he studied at the renowned Folkwang University of Arts with Herman Schardt. From 1970, he began to exhibit all over Europe and the world, and has had more than one hundred solo and more than three hundred group exhibitions.

Matko Trebotić invented a painting formula enabling him to combine the local and the global in a creative and ingenious manner, to translate the heritage idiom into a universal language, and to modernize the Croatian traditional expression. His output is characterized by the completeness and recognizability of style, iconography and expression.

His output has been presented in five monographs, and his works are exhibited in numerous collections and museums at home and abroad.

Matko Trebotić authored the magnificent festive stage curtains The Adriatic Polyptych for the theatres in Split, Dubrovnik, Rijeka and Šibenik.

Several films have been made on Matko Trebotić and his work.

Together with distinguished Croatian and foreign poets, he has released around twenty editions of poetry and graphics.

Occasionally, he is engaged in spatial installation, as well as in theatrical and TV set design.

Matko Trebotic has won around twenty awards for his artistic achievements, including the annual Vladimir Nazor Award (1990), the City of Split Award (1991), the Danica Hrvatska Medal with the Marko Marulić Image (1996), the Seoul Biennale Award (2000), the Jure Kaštelan Award (2004), the Rudolf Bunck Award of the Croatian National Theatre of Split for Best Theatrical Work (2006), the Split-Dalmatia County Award for Artistic Achievements (2006), the Rotary International's Paul Harris Fellow Award, and the  City of Split Lifetime Achievement Award (2009).