ARTIST BIO

Born in former Yugoslavia, Marija grew up in a war-torn country and her life was much different than it is today. Her childhood ended overnight, and she was surrounded by destruction. She and her family moved to the US as refugees in the late 90s and rebuilt their lives, dreams, and hopes.

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Marija received a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Architecture and has had much success in architecture and interior design. Her art career spontaneously started in the year 2000 when her clients commissioned her to do a piece for the space she had designed for them. Marija’s approach to creating art is similar to designing buildings and interiors - she begins with a clear vision. The execution of the vision starts with thoughtful analysis, followed by the creation of an idea on canvas. Building layers and textures add depth, while color and reduction of color complete the artwork.

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Marija is inspired by the interplay of light and shadow, raw beauty of nature, and complexity of urban life. She strives to create art that makes a unique statement yet complements existing surroundings.

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Having lived on three continents, Marija learned to appreciate the beauty in often overseen details. Through her art, she tries to bring it to life.