Gaya Lastovjak’s paintings center on the human form, layering it with symbolic meaning to explore different facets of existence. Using a technique that combines papier-mâché, canvas, and oil paint, she creates a three-dimensional effect where shadows replace color, adding subtle depth. Her figures appear both still and alive, caught in quiet moments of transformation.
Her work engages with universal struggles—loneliness, oppression, and inner conflict—expressed through familiar, almost static poses. Painted primarily in white, these figures embody both fragility and strength. The restrained palette, combined with the interplay of light and shadow, creates a tension between presence and absence, containment and release.
For Lastovjak, the body is more than a physical form—it reflects unseen emotional states. Her work captures silent struggles while hinting at the possibility of change. She invites the viewer to consider the hidden complexities of the self and the spaces where transformation takes shape.
