Nikolina Petolas

There are things beneath the surface - unspoken, unseen, yet deeply felt.
I’m drawn to this, to the unknown.

My love for nature, animals, and fantastical realms has led me to create a parallel world—one that feels familiar yet distant.
My characters inhibit historical interiors and gardens.
Much like us, they yearn for love, security, and a place to belong. They wander through, seeking answers, only to find even more questions. The world I create is anti-utopian; it appears tranquil and in harmony, there’s a sense of something unsettling just beneath the surface.

Over many years, I’ve searched for locations and interiors that I’ve brought into my work.
I work in both traditional and digital mediums, each offering unique ways to express my vision.
Through photo collage and illustration, I combine elements from photography with animals and hybrid creatures, often transformed from my own self-portraits. The digital medium fascinates me and opens up endless possibilities, but I also find immense joy in traditional methods, particularly painting with oils. There’s an irreplaceable feeling that comes from the brush on canvas and the experience of working with paint.
I’m grateful to be able to embrace the best of both worlds.

The wo...

AWARDS:
2023 - Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna, Digital Renaissance, Finalist (KHM Architecture)
2023 - Jury top 5 selection, In the palace
2023 - Official selection, IPA awards
2023 - IPA awards - In the Palace, Honorable mention
2023 - London Photography Awards, In the Shadows, Special - Gold winner
2022 - TIFA awards, Gentle Giants, Honorable mention
2022 - IPA awards, In the Shadows, Official Selection
2022 - IPA awards, In the Shadows, Honorable mention
2022 - Beautiful Bizzare - Honorable Mention
2022 - LICC - Storie Di Seta - Ferragamo project - shortlisted
2021 - IPA awards, Jury Top 5 Selection, Gentle Giants
2021 - Bronze medal, IPA awards, Digitally enhanced, PRO
2021 - Muse Awards, Gold medal, In the palace, digitally enhanced
2021 - Siena awards, 'Green Tendencies' shortlisted
2021 - BBA gallery, Art prize, longlisted
2020 - Top 5 Jury selection, IPA awards, Professional, Lollipop
2020 - 2nd Place Winner, IPA Awards, Digitally enhanced
2020 -1st Place Winner Single image, 'The Smuggler of Happiness', The 15th Pollux Awards, Digital manipulation & collage
2020 - Honorable mention, The 15th Pollux Awards, 'The Tree House', Digital manipulation & collage
2020 - Honorable mention , The 15th Pollux Awards, 'Green Tendencies...

Saatchi collections including:
"New this week 1-20-2020"
"Best of photography 2019"
"Saatchi Fall 2019 Catalog Vol I, Vol II"
"Saatchi Holiday catalog 2019"
"Best of September 2019"
"New this week 9-09-2019"
"New this week" 7-15-2019
"Best of year 2018"
"New this week" 4-30-2018
"Contemporary takes on Surrealism""
"Contemporary Photography"
"Hot Shots: New Photography"