Artwork in the room
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 displays a captivating and symbolic composition featuring two central figures intricately detailed and adorned with various ornaments. The predominant figure, seen in profile, has an intense and thoughtful expression. Her head is elaborately decorated with a headdress composed of layered circular and patterned elements that suggest both a regal and mystical aura. Attached to these head adornments are small, round mirrors or medallions, which reflect different faces or masks, further accentuating the complexity of her persona or identity. Behind her, slightly lower on the canvas, another face emerges, gazing outward with similarly compelling features and partial adornment. The artwork is rich in texture and patterns, composed of what appears to be fine line work and dotting techniques that give depth and form to the figures and their embellishments. This interplay of elaborate visual elements and the enigmatic expressions of the figures evoke themes of heritage, identity, and possibly the mystical or spiritual connections between individuals.
