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 presents a portrait of a woman depicted with an elaborate and intricate headpiece. This headpiece seems to be composed of various floral elements, intertwining branches, leaves, and abstract designs that evoke a sense of wild overgrowth, resembling a dense, flourishing garden atop her head. Central to the composition is a striking red flower, boldly placed among the muted colors dominantly used throughout. The woman's demeanor and facial expression are contemplative and serene, accentuated by her gaze directed slightly upward and away. Her features are finely detailed, contrasting with the surreal and chaotic nature of the headpiece. Decorative elements resembling jewelry, such as chains and pendants, dangle around and hang from the elaborate structure, adding a layer of elegance and detail to the overall fantastical theme. The color palette is primarily monochromatic which reinforces a vintage, timeless feel, punctuated by pops of red that draw the eye. The detailed artwork conveys a sense of profound connection between the natural world and human contemplation, captured in the serenity and complexity of the subject’s appearance.
