about
an artist
There are only two paths in life: either we let fear guide us, or we let passion lead the way. I have followed passion my entire life.
LONG STORY SHORT
Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of riding white horses when I grew up. That dream came true. Horses first became my best friends. On their backs, I experienced freedom and power, and began to believe that anything was possible. I fulfilled my dream, became a professional dressage rider, and spent two decades living that life.
Then fate stepped in and pushed me into a black hole. I began bringing colour into my black and white life through creating mandalas and intuitive painting. This path led me to becoming an artist, and my first teacher, and eventually to an American art institute.
Horses returned to my life, but this time, they wanted to find their way onto the canvas. When these giants, with their immense energy and power and yet incredible sensitivity, enter our lives, they never truly leave.
Passion, invisible threads, hope and emotions began to spread across my canvases in another form as well. This is how women's portraits and couples began to emerge, allowing me to express all of this, just as I feel it on any given day.
I let my imagination and emotions run free, even when they lead me astray, because sometimes the greatest treasures are found down blind alleys.
Urša Vadnjal
artist statement
My work explores emotion, vulnerability, and the connections between people, as well as the bond between humans and horses. Through paintings of women, couples, and horses, I express tenderness, intimacy, and the complexity of relationships.
My paintings are characterised by muted colours, hazy layers, and soft transitions. As I paint, I immerse myself in the feelings that gradually take shape on the canvas alongside the image.
In a world where tenderness, openness, and genuine connection are often missing, I want my work to create space for them. I believe in honest relationships and the freedom to be ourselves. I hope viewers can recognise a part of themselves in my paintings and connect with feelings they may struggle to put into words.
