Exhibitions
My name is Karolina Radotić, and I’m known as “Kuci.” I was born in Postojna, Slovenia, in 1998. I completed my undergraduate studies at the Arthouse College of Visual Arts in February 2023, and in October 2023, I began my postgraduate studies at the same institution. In October 2024, I successfully completed my Master’s (postgraduate) studies at Arthouse College, and during the defense of my Master’s thesis titled On Inspiration and Fantasy Imagery in My Art and the Art of Bosch and Goya, in which I presented several of my works, I received the highest faculty award for excellence in a Master’s thesis, the ‘Summa cum laude‘ distinction.
Throughout my artistic journey, I have participated in both solo and group exhibitions.
Solo exhibitions:
–Sadness at Kulturni dom Planina, 2017
-Two solo exhibitions at Mladinski Center Postojna:
–Mystica (2018)
–The Subtle Corners of the Soul (2023)
-Virtual exhibition at the Center za mlade Domžale, titled Heavy Colors (2020)
–Between the Truth and the Subconscious at Prulček, a live music venue in Ljubljana (2023)
–Between the Truth and the Subconscious at Galerija Tir in Nova Gorica (2024)
–Mystical Journeys at Mala Galerija in Škofja Loka (2024)
Group exhibitions/competitions:
-ZDSLU Galerija, Ljubljana, as part of the Young Artists 2022 competition
-Galerija Avla – GT22, Maribor, for the Welcome Youth 2022 competition (competed for the Primavera Award)
-Zavod Rast, Ruše, as part of the Young Artists competition (2022)
-In March 2023, I reached the national finals of the Red Bull Doodle global competition. My artwork was selected among over 500 submissions to be in the final 20
-In August 2024, I participated in an art fair that was part of the Kunigunda Festival in Velenje
How it all started
My desire to create was awakened during early childhood. As a child, I often “escaped” into my imagination, finding it easier to retreat there than to face the world around me. Yet, I was deeply amazed by nature, animals, and the houses I saw. I marveled at the world that surrounded me, captivated by the constant movement and energy. I also observed relationships between people. My early motifs were simple, reflecting reality, but always with a stylized touch. I’ve always felt a need to understand the objects or events I encountered in my own unique way.
I was a self-taught artist until I began my studies at the Arthouse College of Visual Arts in Ljubljana. In short, for as long as I can remember, I have always been a very creative person, and my rich imagination is the reason I see things differently.
I have always been accompanied by what I call “artistic visions”—these are essentially images that I transfer from my mind onto canvases. Art, for me, has always been an escape from everyday life, and it continues to be so. For me, art is primarily a spiritual practice.
Artist’s statement:
I firmly believe that everything is not as it appears on the surface. Therefore, as an artist, I constantly challenge myself to push the boundaries of the reality I inhabit. My visions suggest that there might be more to existence than just the material world we encounter in our daily lives. Consequently, I believe that my creations are influenced by the emotions I harbor toward life, and through my paintings, I celebrate life in all its facets—both its beauty and its ugliness.
The central theme of my work is storytelling. Each painting conveys a story; some tell a lot, while others reveal a little less. In my fantasy world, I process everyday life and transform it into a fantastical narrative within my artwork. Real people, events, ideas, or emotions are replaced by symbols or personifications, giving most of my paintings an autobiographical foundation. I craft these stories myself, incorporating various fantastical elements inspired by my artistic visions.
Through the lens of my imagination, I also reimagine well-known biblical stories and church teachings. I find additional inspiration from literature, such as the Bible, as well as music—particularly poetic metaphors—folk proverbs, and traditions. In addition to my personal work, I also create portraits and caricatures on commission.
About my work process:
My creative process begins long before the actual sketching. For example, when I read literature on archetypes or a collection of proverbs, many ideas emerge in my mind, which I sketch spontaneously. I also capture artistic visions that appear unexpectedly and are unrelated to my studies, sketching them on the fly. These images exist first in the mind, then in the sketchbook, and finally on the canvas. Fantasy is my primary guide in the creative process. Sketches in my artbook serve as preliminary steps for my paintings. I then weave together the disparate motifs from my sketchbook to craft a complete narrative—a new painting.
When I create portraits or caricatures on commission, clients initially provide me with a photograph of the person to be depicted, along with descriptions of their personality. Each portrait and caricature is unique; my goal in every piece is to capture the essence of the person, incorporating details specific to their personal life.
Commisions
If you have an interesting life story you’d like to share and see transformed onto canvas, please don’t hesitate to contact me using the email address below. Whether you desire your story to be portrayed symbolically, as an allegory, or simply wish to see it brought from memory into the tangible world, where it can ‘come alive’ on the canvas.
Additionally, if you’d like to present someone dear to you with a special gift, such as a portrait or caricature, you can also reach out to me at my email address: karolina.radotic@gmail.com
Note that all of the paintings posted on this page are available for sale.