Daiva Staškevičienė, born in 1968 in Vilnius, is a Lithuanian artist known for her detailed and imaginative work.
Daiva Staškevičienė’s artistic journey began in childhood and later continued through formal studies, culminating in a Master’s degree in Graphic Art at the Vilnius Academy of Arts. Having studied under the prominent Lithuanian graphic artist Leonas Lagauskas, her work is grounded in precision, structure, and strong composition.
Her graphic work is highly detailed, yet it goes beyond technical skill. Carefully constructed scenes open into a symbolic, subtly surreal world, where elements drawn from imagination, nature, and folklore emerge gradually. Each work reveals new layers over time.
Alongside printmaking, she has developed a strong painting practice. Working in oil, Staškevičienė employs the glazing technique, building her images through thin, translucent layers to create a rich sense of materiality. Her figures—faces that do not represent specific individuals—feel timeless and slightly mythical. Set against nearly flat, undefined backgrounds, they seem to float between surface and space.
Her work connects to the ideas of André Breton, who described surrealism as a meeting point between dream and reality. In her work, this connection appears gently, creating images that feel both familiar and subtly uncanny.
Graphic works are produced in limited editions, while paintings are unique pieces, making them especially valued by collectors.
About this artwork+
The painting shows a portrait of a young woman against a plain gold background. Her curly hair is styled upward and adorned with a small hat featuring a green striped insect. Below her head, instead of a normal body, there's a collar lined with button-like decorations. The woman's eyes are wide, creating a startled or intense expression. Her earrings match the blue tone in her eyes. Daiva Staškevičienė's style in this piece is both surreal and whimsical. The mixing of real elements, like the human face, with fantastical ones, such as the insect hat and the peculiar collar, creates an intriguing visual narrative. The texture and detail in her hair contrast with the simplicity of the background, drawing more focus to the subject’s face and expressions. The use of vibrant details like the striking blue of her eyes and earrings adds a pop of color against the more muted tones of her face and the golden backdrop. This blend of realism and fantasy is typical of Staškevičienė’s unique artistic voice.
