Mihaela Lica Butler

I paint memories rather than portraits.

Working primarily in acrylic on canvas, I allow each figure to emerge gradually through layers of gesture, texture, and instinct rather than careful representation. Faces appear only partially, bodies dissolve into colour, and brushstrokes remain visible as part of the narrative. I rarely seek perfection. I look instead for presence.

Living in Crete has profoundly shaped my visual language. The island's light, ancient landscapes, and enduring myths find their way into my work, not through direct illustration but as echoes. Ariadne's thread, forgotten goddesses, Minoan rituals, sacred caves, and the emotional weight of Greek mythology often surface beneath the paint without announcing themselves.

My paintings inhabit the space between the visible and the remembered. They invite viewers to complete the story for themselves.

Each work begins without a fixed destination. The painting decides where it wants to go, and my role is simply to follow.

University of Bucharest, Faculty of Orthodox Theology - Bachelor of Theology in Orthodox Dogmatic Theology (with Honors / Cum Laude)