Emotions, 2024

Gaya Lastovjak  

Gaya Lastovjak is a contemporary figurative artist whose works have been exhibited nationally, as well as in Italy, France, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Monaco among others. She has shown her works at exhibitions such as 14th Florence Biennial, Monaco Contemporary Art Fair, 59th Venice Art Biennial at the Musa Pavilon, VIII edition of the Rome Art Week (RAW) at the Palazzo della Cancelleria Vaticana, Venanzo Crocetti Museum in Rome, Van Gogh Gallery in Madrid, Warsaw Art Fair, Artexpo Basel 2.0 in Switzerland, The Other Art Fair by Saatchi Gallery, the largest sculpture biennial in Poland LABO and many others.

Artist's most recent symbolic, three-dimensional paintings explore themes relating to the dualistic nature of man, that is good and evil, which is part of human nature. She also engages in a dialogue with current events and phenomena. Gravity of the works themes collides with their harmonious form. The paintings covered mainly in white paint appear to be static, colours are replaced by shadows by which the works visually gain additional dimension, the one between a painting and a sculpture. Her art defies all classifications and definitions, it is subtle and at the same time critical. In addition, she is involved in sculpture / paper installations, performance and happening art.

Gaya Lastovjak is an award-winning artist, having received more than 40 art awards as of 2021. The most important awards:

1st place, The Fusion Art gallery, Spain; 1st place, American Art Awards, USA;

1st place, Artist Grant, Teravarna gallery, USA; 2nd place, Light Space & Time Gallery, USA; 2nd place, Global Painting Conclave, Canada; 2nd place, Art Cover Contest / Masters of the 14th Anniversary Contest, Art Tour International, USA; 2nd place, ArtisTTable Gallery, USA; 3rd place, Camelback Gallery, USA; 4th place, American Art Awards, USA; 5th place, Light Space & Time Art Gallery, USA; Artist of the Month, Camelback Gallery, USA.

Three-dimensional paintings, compared to other wall sculptures, are distinguished not only by their lightness but also by their extraordinary durability, because they are made of many layers of paper pulp and newspaper filled with wood glue. The works usually weigh from 2 to 10 kilograms, they are packed in wooden boxes, thanks to which transport is very safe. Due to the complicated technique, the paintings are created over several months or even half a year. A characteristic feature of Gaya Lastovjak's work is the play of light and shadow. The convex shapes on the canvas cast shadows, so that the painting looks slightly different at each time of day, illuminated by natural light.