Izabela Carlucci

Bio

I am a Lithuanian - Norwegian artist born in 1989, educated at Vilnius Art Academy, with Bachelors and Masters degrees in Monumental Arts and Site Specific Art. I also had the pleasure of spending a semester in Czech Republic at Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design (UMPRUM) in Prague. During my education I have immersed myself in a whole plethora of subjects and techniques, with especially strong focus on drawing and stained glass design, from the traditional to contemporary approach. Now I work from my home studio in Brooklyn where I create paintings, drawings and stained glass pieces. Photography and printmaking is my other passion. I see craftmanship as an integral part of my practice.

EDUCATION 2020-2022: Vilnius Academy of Arts, Site Specific Art, Master's Degree 2016- 2020 Vilnius Academy of Arts, Monumental Arts, Stained Glass Bachelor's Degree

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:

2017 Group show Europa – vieningi namai, Gallery Vitražo Manūfaktura, Vilnius

2018 Group show to mark the Centennial of Restored Lithuania, The Parliament, Vilnius

2018, 14-30th September, Homo Faber Event, Venice, Italy. Curated by Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity & Craftsmanship. Participant in The rare talents exhibition hall.

2018 Group show Nykstančios realybės pėdsakai, Vitražo Manūfaktura Gallery, Vilnius

2020 Exhibition Less Than Zero at the Kreatoriumas gallery, Vilnius

2022 Group show Between, Gallery Titanikas,Vilnius

2023 Solo exhibition St Anthony's Fire, Galerija Akademija, Vilnius

OTHER Member of The Association of Norwegian Visual Artists (NBK) since 2022

Second Prize winner, Algimantas Švēgžda's name drawing competition 2023

Winner of 2019 Student prize for artistic achievements, selected by Lithuanian Artists Association

LANGUAGES: English, Norwegian, Lithuanian, Russian, Polish.

Artist Statement

As an artist I have for years mainly worked on two topics, both concerning moral philosophy and violence. The first one pertains to religious trauma I have personally experienced from growing up Catholic. In my work I grapple with feelings of guilt, shame and fear of death as a result of my culture and upbringing. I am infatuated with the symbol of the crucifix which often appears in my work.

The second topic is fueled by my interest in representations of transgression, iconoclasm and violence in art and pop culture. I question representation of women as victims, while trying to find ways to confront societies fascination with violent and sexualised crimes against young women especially. The title of my Master's Degree thesis was ''Transgression and violence in art – The moral panic'' where I dived deep into the topic. It is worth mentioning that while studying, I worked as a forensic autopsy assistant for three years.

I have done hundreds of autopsies and witnessed unspeakable tragedies. Being exposed to accidents, suicides and violent murders (many of which were femicides) on a daily basis had a huge impact on my views on religion, society, feminism and morals, which undoubtedly transferred into my artistic practice. A lot of my work have connotations to body horror, uncanniness, abject themes (as in philosophy of Julia Kristeva) and nihilism.

I am hugely inspired by women artists who bravely used violence to fight violence (Teresa Margolles, Ana Mendieta, Darja Bajagic), at the cost of rejection by society that doesn't want to be forced to see the uncomfortable truths, unless in a form of entertainment – we tolerate realistically rendered violence on our TV screens, but something happens when the same images are presented as art. In my opinion you can't talk about injustice beautifully, unless all you want is indifference.