St. Alexander Nevsky - hand-painted icon, egg tempera on linden Painting

Jelena Živković (born 1993. in Valjevo, Serbia) graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Arts in Belgrade, Department of Painting (2016), under the mentorship of Prof Dobrica Bisenić. Works and lives in her hometown. Artist Statement My artistic journey is a convergence of tradition, faith, and imagination. Rooted in my Orthodox Christian background, my work is constantly informed by the timeless beauty and reverence found in Byzantine art and ancient Greek traditions. Yet, I am not confined by one path; I am drawn to the great masters of realism, the symbolic depth of mysticism, and the boundless realms of fantasy. To me, the lines between magic and religion blur, for both are expressions of the same underlying human experience—our capacity for profound emotion, sacrifice, and the depth of thought that defines us. In my mosaics, I find a sacred harmony between precision and reverence. Each stone is a prayer, each piece a reflection of devotion. I embrace the meticulous act of crafting something from thousands of tiny fragments, believing that in the smallest details, a greater unity emerges—an idea central to both my faith and my art. However, my practice is not limited to sacred imagery. I explore the realms of fantasy and imagination with the same intensity, creating illustrations and landscapes that invite the viewer into a world of wonder. I want my audience to lose themselves in these creations, whether it’s a mystical landscape or a story unfolding in colors and forms. I seek to evoke awe, peace, and a sense of magical journey, transporting those who encounter my work into realms where the divine and the fantastical coexist. Though I remain deeply connected to my Orthodox roots, I do not aim to create art that is exclusively religious. Instead, I aspire to create work that transcends boundaries, where the essence of faith, beauty, and the human experience are always present, regardless of the subject. In every piece, I strive to reflect the wonder of creation, the magic in the mundane, and the deep spirituality that unites us all.