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+
In the painting, a central figure resembling a mystical shepherd takes prominence, adorned in elaborate attire with a hint of traditional and whimsical elements. This figure, layered with textures that suggest garments made from round, metallic-like embellishments, sits poised and distinguished. The ensemble includes a high ruffled neck piece and a crown that seem to merge flora and regal motifs, lending an air of authority and otherworldliness. Surrounding the shepherd are various fantastical creatures and mechanical objects, blurring the boundaries between the organic and the constructed. To the left, one notices a figure that combines aspects of a goat and a mechanical structure, contributing to the machinery-infused theme of the scene. This creature, along with others in the vicinity, appears serene and compliant, reinforcing the notion of the central figure as a caretaker or guardian of these chimeric beings. Floating islands with miniature landscapes introduce a dreamlike quality, hovering in the background and adding depth and mystery to the composition. These islands are connected by delicate strings or chains, suggesting a fragile yet tangible link between different realms or ideas. The color palette is subdued with splashes of reds and earth tones that breathe life into the predominantly grey and metallic scheme, highlighting details and adding vibrancy. Each element is intricately detailed, contributing to a tapestry-like texture that invites the viewer to look closer and delve into the layers of this dream-infused shepherd’s realm. The overall atmosphere is one of tranquil order and fantastical beauty, encapsulating a serene yet complex dreamscape governed by the Shepherd of Dreams.
