Artwork in the room
Janina Celiešienė, a distinguished Lithuanian artist, discovers in creativity a profound method for understanding and interpreting life. For her, art serves as an avenue for self-expression, capable of lifting the human spirit above ordinary routines and providing both joy and uplifting emotions. Her artwork is intensely personal, capturing a broad range of emotions—love, anxiety, disappointment, hope, faith, and dreams—which she believes words alone are insufficient to convey.
Born and raised in Kaunas, Lithuania, Celiešienė studied at Kaunas University of Technology before continuing her education at the Vilnius Academy of Arts, where she established a solid grounding in both technical and artistic fields. Active in the Lithuanian and international art scenes since 1994, she has participated in over fifty group exhibitions, plein-air sessions, and biennials within Lithuania and abroad. In 2000, she made a notable impact on Lithuanian art education with the publication of the country’s first art textbook, "Fundamentals of Art History and Art Cognition."
Throughout her creative process, Celiešienė skillfully merges realistic details with imaginative elements, crafting distinctive pieces that engage viewers on intellectual and emotional levels. She primarily chooses oil on canvas as her medium, which provides her with the flexibility to explore color and form, creating vibrant, expressive works. This blending of reality and fantasy has come to define her signature style.
Celiešienė’s paintings are appreciated not only in Lithuania but also by art enthusiasts and collectors around the world. Her works reside in the collections of institutions and private collectors within her home country, as well as in places like the USA, Australia, and throughout Europe. Since 2009, she has held membership in the Lithuanian Artists’ Union, further cementing her significant presence in the artistic community.
About this artwork+
The painting depicts a whimsical, multi-layered cityscape that almost appears to grow organically out of the ground. The architecture is varied and seemingly pieced together with structures that tilt and overlap in a haphazard yet visually cohesive manner. Earthy tones dominate the palette, with hints of subtle blues and greens integrating the scene with the natural environment. Some buildings have rounded roofs while others feature sharp angles. Windows dot the façades in different sizes and irregular placements. In the foreground, against a more vivid green field, a stand-alone blue flower draws the eye with its vibrant color, providing a contrast to the subdued hues of the town. Bare trees flank the city, their branches stretching outward, enhancing the feeling of a landscape in quiet transition. The sky is overcast, and a body of water quietly mirrors the base of the surreal metropolis, adding a sense of calm to the dynamic ensemble of buildings. The whole scene conveys a sense of enchantment, as if the viewer has stumbled upon a hidden, fantastical place that operates outside the bounds of ordinary reality.
