I was born in 1990 in Šilutė, into an artistic family – my father is a painter and ceramicist, and my mother paints folk art works featuring the Tree of Life motif. These roots shaped my love for ancient history and painting.
I graduated in Visual Arts from Klaipėda University, specializing in painting. I have participated in group exhibitions, performances, and art exchange projects both in Lithuania and abroad. After my studies, I founded the ceramic brand Monai Studio, where I created contemporary ceramics inspired by folklore and presented them at international exhibitions and art fairs.
Although I have created extensively in the field of ceramics, painting has always remained an inseparable part of my life. For the past several years, I have been working in my painting studio, where I explore philosophical concepts, experiment with techniques, and seek new forms to embody ideas. In creating abstract, meditative paintings, I search for a sense of connection with my surroundings and with others. I explore intense sensations, questioning whether they are universal and whether I can find a common ground to create a shared experience. I am drawn to phenomenology, dualism, and symbolic thinking – ways in which we shape our personal reality under the influence of both environment and the constructs of the mind. Painting, to me, is more than applying paint to a surface. It is experimentation, deep listening, observation, and wonder. The process becomes intertwined with life itself – I paint while I read, watch, converse, remember, and feel. It is a living, growing, and ever-changing act, born from thought, experience, and the desire to share what I have lived through.
I create my meditative abstract paintings by combining various techniques – pouring and splashing acrylic inks, applying thick acrylic paint with brushes, sponges, palette knives, or rollers, and engraving fine lines with a pigmented pencil. I aim for vibrancy, depth of texture, and contrast between fine details and large painted areas. I seek balance between spontaneity and controlled gestures, carefully choosing colors to express emotion. I paint slowly, in layers, allowing space to gradually deepen and take shape. I discover the rhythm and harmony of the work. I choose unprimed canvas or natural linen to enhance the texture, letting the painting breathe without covering it with a thick layer of varnish. The matte, textured surface adds a new aesthetic dimension – a sense of fullness.
About this artwork+
This painting by Morta Kaniavienė, titled "Observer," captures a surreal and abstract landscape. At first glance, there's a collage of vibrant and muted colors creating a complex scene. You can see an array of shapes and textures mix together. There's a mountain-like structure topped with a waterfall. Bright geometric shapes in red and blue add a modern touch against the softer background. Swirls and lines in green and red snake through the canvas, adding movement. Kaniavienė uses abstract art to play with reality. Her style includes both sharp lines and soft washes of color. This creates a dreamy, yet dynamic atmosphere. The painting invites viewers to interpret and explore. It's like stepping into another world.
