He paint in more than 50 years, had an artistic education, except for evening drawing lessons. In his paintings, nature motifs and villages of the Croatian Zagorje. It is usually painted coasts, flowers, clouds and sun. He had 200 solo exhibitions and has a number of group. He has exhibited in the gallery "Mona Lisa" in Paris 1963rd year. On it was filmed 10 documentaries and published several books in several languages. Rivera is known for ceramics company Rosenthal. Besides him, the honor had only Victor Vasarely and Henri Rousseau. He made a large curtain for the theater in Tokyo and the Museum of Modern Art in Urawa, Japan. He died on the 88th year of life. Today, the house where he lived with his family in the Key of New Marof, there is a large collection of his works.