BIOGRAPHY

Dragana Milovic, born in Montenegro, earned her art degree in painting from the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Belgrade in Belgrade, Serbia. After an initial period of artistic painting in Belgrade she moved to London in the United Kingdom, where painted/created and taught art. In 2017, Dragana relocated to the United States. She currently lives and works as a professional artistic painter in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Dragana has exhibited her works in a number of solo and group exhibitions and art symposiums throughout Europe. Her works are a part of many public and private collections. "The media through which I express my creativity are typically acrylic and oil on canvas, and on paper, use of pigments, as well as 3D objects/shapes. During the course of my artistic career, I have gone through several creative phases. Starting with figurative expression where the human figure was the dominant theme, moving on to landscapes and interiors treated from natural to stylized with elements of fantasy and dreams to which I often added geometric shapes with elements of electronic devices and thus gradually entered the world of abstract expression. My guiding idea has always been to search for new content, new techniques and thus enrich my creative expression, always striving to surprise myself with each new image, achieving elevated quality as themes spontaneously emerge. Working on paper relaxes me, giving me an opportunity for additional freedom of expression, and quickly incorporating new ideas. Combining of various materials such as pencil, acrylic, acrylic spray, and pastel colors, I strive to achieve harmony and dynamism in the composition. More recently, I have created images dominated by blue pigment. It is a step in a completely new direction which opens up new possibilities with an entrance into the third dimension. These paintings are a combination of new and recent experiences and the spiritual tradition of the region of my origin which dates back to the early Middle Ages. Frescoes from medieval Serbian monasteries, which in many cases are dominated by blue and gold tones, have made a lasting impression on me.”

ARTIST INSIGHTS

How are your background and life experiences connected to your art?

My creative development is closely linked to my personal experiences and the culture of the surroundings where I grew up. The reading and analysis of the poetry of the greatest Montenegrin poet Njegos, as well as the beauty of haiku poetry, had a profound influence on my artistic inner soul. I have also been inspired by interesting people, their destinies, nature, architecture, museums, music, visits to new and unique places All of this together shaped me as a person and had an impact on shaping me as an artist.

Who are some of your biggest artistic influences?

Initially, my artistic influence developed in my own home. I grew up in a family where art occupied a significant place. My father was a passionate photographer whose photo laboratory for developing black and white photographs was located in our house.. My older brother Vukasin (who is today an outstanding and awarded sculptor) recognized my talent for painting very early on when I was very young and gave me first art lesson. Later, during my studies, it was the art of great world artists such as Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Picasso, Van Gogh, Kandinsky, and Kazimir Malevich, among others, which formed the core of my artistic sensibilities which are present in my works.

How have you developed your artist career?

As a student of painting, I first started exhibiting at group student exhibitions, and then I was accepted at large exhibitions where the most important artists from the former Yugoslavia were represented. Immediately after graduating, I began to exhibit more intensively in both group and solo exhibitions at the national and international level. I have also participated in a number of international art symposiums. Exhibitions and Symposiums were a very important element in getting me recognized for my artistic quality by art historians, gallerists, and collectors.

What does your artistic work intend to communicate to its audience?

When I create I don’t think about the messages I may convey through the image. I am an intuitive painter who uses the subconscious to create painting content, with the ultimate goal of my work being quality.

In the recent blue phase where I experimented with pigment and 3D geometric forms, I first visualized images in my head before the process started on the canvas. I find inspiration for this phase of painting in Byzantine fresco painting, where blues and golds dominate.  I succeeded in making a link between the Byzantine art of my experience in a unique way. My art never lends itself to quick and easy interpretation.  I strive to put the observer in a position where they have to think and ask many questions.

Does your work comment on any current social or political issues?

Not at all!

Do you have a particular story that stands out from your career as an artist?

I recall how proud I was when I became a student at the prestigious art school in Belgrade, Serbia. It was very competitive. The entrance exam lasted 5 days and I was uncertain if I would be accepted. When I saw my name on the list of students who were accepted, I felt immense happiness. I also remember my first solo exhibition and the happiness I felt, which immediately after finishing my studies, when I received an invitation from a gallery owner to exhibit independently as one of the best students of my generation in the Paleta Gallery in Belgrade.

What is one thing you would like your audience to know about you?

The fact that my passion for painting has grown over the years makes me extremely happy and gives me hope that I will just make paintings that will give a universal quality to my art.

Which current art world trends are you following?

I follow different artistic trends, from classical painting on canvas to conceptual art in order to be informed about what is new in the world of art. In conceptual art, I especially follow the work of Marina Abramović, who is a very well recognized artist.

Why have you chosen to sell your work in the 1515 Lincoln Gallery?

The professionalism, attitude towards the artist and the quality of art presented by the 1515 Lincoln Gallery was crucial for me to want to put my works up for sale. A true class act!

What do you believe makes 1515 Lincoln Gallery distinct from other galleries?

During my career, I have collaborated with many galleries around the world. I can say that I have never met such a high degree of professionalism and positive attitude that Susan McCalmont and her staff have towards all artists individually. Also, the constant hard work to promote the artists and their art to the highest levels is something that makes 1515 Lincoln Gallery very special.

ARTIST STATEMENT

My paintings reflect my emotions, thoughts and contents which have been deposited into my subconscious over time, then freed and transferred from the superfluous, to the canvases, giving them a completely new dimension appreciated by the eye of the observer. Creativity is a long-term process that requires analysis of content and form, rejecting the superfluous and finding the essence of the entirety. For my art, I set for myself high aesthetic standards, giving each painting a new, unrepeatable energy.

DRAGANA MILOVIC’S AVAILABLE ART

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