Vilma Petrauskaitė was born on April 7, 1971, in the village of Vizgirdai. She graduated from Georgia High School in 1989. Although she had long aspired to be an artist, it was not until nineteen years later that she pursued this path professionally by enrolling in the Faculty of Arts at Šiauliai University.
At Šiauliai University, Vilma specialized in Fine Arts (Graphics), earning her bachelor’s degree between 2007 and 2011. She went on to attain a master’s degree in Painting at the same university, studying from 2011 to 2013. These academic experiences provided her with a strong grounding in both graphic arts and painting, broadening the scope of her artistic expression.
Vilma Petrauskaitė has been a member of the Artists' Union since 2017. Her work is primarily centered on portraiture and the human figure, with a particular emphasis on characteristic portraits of everyday individuals. Rather than simply depicting her subjects, she aims to undertake what she calls a “study of the human soul.” Through her portraits, Vilma seeks to reflect profound and sometimes enigmatic aspects of personality and existence.
Throughout her artistic process, Vilma endeavors to create psychological resonance and a sense of intimacy by employing vibrant colors and expressive brushwork. She considers preserving the memory of loved ones to be one of portraiture’s greatest roles. The emotional depth and storytelling present in her artworks move beyond the merely representational, inviting viewers to explore the psychological and existential inner worlds of her subjects. Over the course of her career, she has mounted several solo exhibitions and has taken part in many group shows and plein-air events.
About this artwork+
In the painting titled "Fear" by Vilma Petrauskaitė, we see the realistic depiction of an elderly woman set against a deeply saturated, primarily reddish background. Her hair is short and gray, neatly combed back, adding to her contemplative look. Her eyes are wide open and carry a hint of apprehension or concern, accentuated by the wrinkles that frame them. The woman's lips are slightly parted, as if frozen in a moment right before speaking. She wears a dark robe-like garment with subtle hints of purple and brown that adds to the overall somberness and depth of the portrait. Her posture is upright yet hints at vulnerability, with her shoulders lightly drawn inward. The intense backdrop, a fiery mix of reds and black, seems to echo the emotional state of fear, possibly reflecting the inner turmoil or anxiety experienced by the subject. The thick, expressive brushstrokes throughout provide texture and add a tactile sense of realism to the image.
