Artist - Sanja Pereša Macuka

Sanja Pereša Macuka

Sanja was born in Pula, Istria, where she graduated from the School of Applied Art and Design. She completed her studies in history and Croatian language at the Faculty of Philosophy in Pula. Since then, she has been working as a history teacher at the school while remaining actively involved in the art scene.

Sanja draws, paints, photographs, writes, studies, reads, and attends art exhibitions. She participates in group exhibitions and ex tempore events, learning and developing her artistic expression along the way. Observing and learning constantly, she has received recognition for her work. Throughout her artistic journey, she explores different styles and evolves her expression.

 

Vodnjan Ex tempore, third prize for the work "Where are you?" (2014)

She has been actively exhibiting since 2012, organizing several solo exhibitions in Pula and its surroundings, and participating in numerous group exhibitions. Since 2020, she has been a member of the Croatian Society of Fine Artists of Istria (HDLU), where she has exhibited multiple times at group exhibitions and projects in the HDLU Gallery.

Her topics of interest are diverse, ranging from dark, sublimated visions at the beginning of her research to colorful rhapsodies celebrating life, female energy, nature, and wilderness. In her work, she employs a combination of drawing and painting techniques, along with collage. 

Independent Exhibition: You Dreamed That You Were Happy, SKUC 2016

In this exhibition, she explored the boundaries between drawings, illustrations, and paintings, presenting works that consistently reflect feminine nature and surrealistic influences.Technique: combination of watercolor, acrylic, drawing

Technique: combination of watercolor, acrylic, drawing

You dreamed you were happy, 40X50

Raft, 40x50

This cycle was created under the distinct influence of poetry and prose, featuring simple, figurative illustrations imbued with strong symbolism. The works were developed over more than a year and include drawing, painting, embossing, grattage, and collage. They primarily serve as an illustration of impressions—echoes of experiences and reactions to what she has seen or read.

 

Sadness is legal, acrylic, 40x50

I'm nobody! Who are you?, akril, 40x50

Conscience, acrylic, 40x50

Master and Margarita, acrylic, 60x70

New Cycle - Forests (2020)

Currently, Sanja is captivated by nature and the vibrant energy of the forest. This ongoing cycle grew from her passion for nature, walking, and hiking. Most of it was created during solitary walks, as she was drawn to the winter landscapes of local forests with their grayness, textures, and skies captured in bare branches. She initially framed her views and experiences with photography, studying the shapes and colors, and then translated them onto canvas, aiming to convey the energy of the gloomy winter forests filled with stunted hornbeam trees, which are typical of southern Istria. Her research began with monochromatic experiments in smaller formats and evolved into more colorful and larger pieces.

20x20

30x40

 

50x70

Nonne, Herman Gallery 2021

The latest cycle, titled Nonica/Nonna, draws inspiration from beach scenes, particularly from the Stoja swimming pool. This neglected oasis is a gathering place for Pula's residents across generations. City folk spend their summer days there, engaging in various activities—bathing, exercising, drinking wine, playing cards, and occasionally singing old Italian songs in unison when they feel particularly joyous.

 

ANTHROPOCENE

In her most recent cycle, Anthropocene, Sanja juxtaposes the old with the new. As a passionate collector of vintage items, she transforms old frames and postcards into unique works of art. By playing with the kitschy aesthetics characteristic of 20th-century small-town living rooms, she tells stories from city history, urban legends, and her artistic imagination, creating a compelling cycle about human history, the destructive nature of mankind, desire, beauty, and transience.

La Musa

In 2024, Sanja opened an independent gallery in the small Istrian town of Vodnjan called La Musa Gallery. This space serves as a hub for creativity and beauty, welcoming art lovers to exhibitions, literary meetings, and workshops. The gallery unites emerging and established artists, fostering creativity and collaboration. It aims to engage the audience, support young talent, and generate innovative ideas.