Nude Apollo with Selfie Stick Print

Los Angeles-based contemporary artist and advertising art director, designer, radio journalist, and former attorney, Zoran Usoric (ZMAN), brings all these diverse experiences to his unique style of visual communication. Originally from Yugoslavia, Zoran's work is imbued with a fresh European perspective that is equal parts humorous, elegant, and penetrating. So, is it art or advertising? "On the best days," says Zoran, "there's no difference." Zoran studied painting and printmaking at the Art and Cultural Center in Banja Luka and graduated with a B.A. in Fine Arts in 1985. Shortly afterwards, he earned a Law Degree and passed the Bar Exam. While working as a successful lawyer in his homeland of Yugoslavia, Zoran also enjoyed artistic prosperity with his paintings, which were displayed in galleries throughout Europe. He moved to Vancouver, Canada in 1994 to pursue a career as a commercial artist. After seven years in the courtroom and 15 years in front of a canvas, Zoran traded in his law degree and artist’s palette for a Mac computer and a career in the advertising industry. He had enough of the "starving artist" lifestyle, and although the “lawyer thing” was lucrative, it did not enrich him enough as a person. Since arriving in North America 25 years ago, Zoran has displayed his creativity working as a concept artist, art director, and graphic designer for a number of ad agencies in Canada and the US. In the process, he has gathered considerable experience producing award-winning advertising campaigns and original branding for a variety of multinational accounts. In 2017, Zoran returned to fine arts and painting after a long hiatus devoted to advertising. His new artwork explores the relationship between artistic expression, information technologies, social media, and pop culture, often satirizing contemporary society obsessed with consumerism, celebrity, and narcissism. From Bohemian to suit to comfortable and trendy back to Bohemian with a flair – hmmm, what a romantic story. Enough already. Check out his stuff!