Birutė Bernotienė McCarthy, an artist from Lithuania, completed her studies in fashion costume at the Vilnius Academy of Arts. Her professional journey took a significant turn in 1983 when she became a member of the Lithuanian Artists’ Association. The acquisition of her pieces by the Lithuanian Arts Foundation signifies the recognition she has received from notable cultural organizations.
She has presented solo exhibitions in numerous cities, including Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Riga, and Kaliningrad, as well as abroad in Sweden and the United States. Her tapestries are featured in public venues such as the Klaipėda National Library and are also found in hotels and private homes, reflecting her influence on both cultural institutions and everyday life.
At one stage in her career, Birutė Bernotienė McCarthy developed fashion collections crafted from silk and linen, with each piece being individually hand-painted. Later, her background in fashion design led her toward a new creative interest: making dolls, inspired by her experience as a mother of two daughters. Utilizing her skills in form, line, color, and style, she took part in national art doll exhibitions, viewing the process of doll-making as both an artistic pursuit and a personal source of happiness.
After concluding her tenure as a professor, she devoted herself entirely to painting, choosing to create only uplifting works that are meant to convey a sense of warmth and uniqueness to home environments. Through each phase of her artistic evolution, Birutė Bernotienė McCarthy continues to enhance the cultural landscape of both Lithuania and the international art world.
About this artwork+
The painting depicts a soaring pine tree standing prominently against a vibrant, cloudy sky. The sky is a mix of serene blues and soft whites, suggesting either early morning or late afternoon light. The tree itself is detailed with dark green and blue shades on its needle-packed branches, which swirl with the wind’s unseen presence. The most striking feature is the tree’s exposed root system, sprawling across the foreground like wooden serpents weaving in and out of the earth. These roots seem to claw into the soil, highlighting the tree’s resilience and longstanding battle with natural elements. The ground around the tree is a mixture of ochre and brown tones, peppered with hints of green, indicating sparse vegetation. This scene exudes a wild, almost primeval quality, capturing a moment of natural majesty and the enduring strength of life.
