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 captures a whimsical scene dominated by apples, both floating in mid-air and resting on the ground beneath. These apples, vibrant with shades of red and hints of green, seem alive under a light that imparts a golden hue, suggestive of perhaps a soft rainfall or the shimmer of dawn. Their stems point upwards as though defying gravity. The background, textured with gentle strokes of pale yellows, greens, and beiges, evokes a misty, rain-dappled field. Thin, vertical brushstrokes in darker tones suggest grass or reeds, enhancing the illusion of a lush, damp meadow. The overall effect is one of enchantment, as if nature itself has paused in a moment of serene abundance.
