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 depicts a surreal, intricate portrait of a face, seemingly female, at its center. The facial features are serene and symmetrical, with closed eyes that exude a peaceful expression. Surrounding the face is a halo of wildly imaginative and dense embellishments that seem to merge flora, fauna, and fantastical elements. Twisting vines, leaves, and blooming flowers intersperse with various animal forms, including birds and possibly small mammals, which appear almost as spiritual guardians or companions to the central figure. The color palette is subdued, favoring earth tones that blend seamlessly with bursts of muted reds, greens, and blues, lending the composition a dreamlike quality. Intricate line work and textural detail suggest an organic connection between the human figure and the natural elements, hinting at themes of unity with nature or the embodiment of a nature deity. The artwork feels both ancient and timeless, evoking the feel of a modern myth or a captured dream.
