I am Here

BFA Alumni

Major: Painting

Graduation Year: 2017

Artist Statement:

My growth as an artist has always lived within a cultural geography. Being born into a very conservative Bosnian family and then moving to America created an intense shift in my development as an individual. My understanding of the world is in constant flux as these two cultures come together. Through my work I aim not to state that one perspective is superior to another, but instead that there is a harmony I seek that lies between the two.

I see in my work a dialogue between material and content. By exploring different processes, the goal is to reflect on the different inquiries of cultural identity I propose within each piece. My thesis is a continued exploration of identity through the lens of a shared Bosnian and American experience. Through the process of painting and printmaking, I have turned self-portraiture into something malleable, metaphorically representing Bosnian tradition through a contemporary American dialogue.

Using my artistic process as a way to communicate globally, I want to connect to individuals of different backgrounds, giving way to conversations that extend beyond the art world.