Lara Ješe is an animal artist living and working amid the pristine nature of Slovenia.
"In my art, I tell stories through animals and their characters. They give faces to the emotions and situations I'm processing in my daily life and bring them on canvas through the infinite world of art."
Ever since Lara Ješe was a child, she has been enchanted by the entire animal kingdom. At some point in her life, her interest in the natural world almost made her enrol in Biology studies. However, her love for the Arts prevailed, so she pursued Fine Arts at the Ljubljana and Leipzig Art Academies.
In her art, Ješe doesn't limit herself to a specific style or medium but she remains devoted to portraying animals as her main motif. Throughout the journey, she has also had the opportunity to work with various animal models in her art production, particularly with horses and cows. The touch they added to her creativity was indispensable, and working with them changed the way she perceived them as individuals and as characters in her art from then on.
Education
2012-2016
Academy of Fine Arts and Design Ljubljana
MA Fine Arts and Design
2014-2015
Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst Leipzig
MA Fine Arts and Graphic
Exhibitions
2024
(upcoming) "Slovene Cows," Sokolski dom, Škofja Loka, Slovenia, solo exhibition, August 2024
(upcoming) Sora Gallery, Sora, Slovenia, solo exhibition, May 2024
(upcoming) Haus der Kunst Baden, Baden, Austria, group exhibition, 16. – 25. 2. 2024
“Prešernov smenj 2024 – Tihožitje” (Prešeren's Fair 2024 – Still Life), Small Gallery LDK, Kranj, Slovenia, group exhibition, 8. – 25. 2. 2024
2023
"Mali format" (Small format), Small Gallery LUDKR, Kranj, Slovenia, group exhibition, 19. 12. 2023 - 19. 1. 2024
"Sales Exhibition," Kranj House Gallery, Kranj, group exhibition, 19. 12. 2023 - 19. 1. 2024
"Iskanje izgubljenega časa (Searching for Lost Time), Sora Gallery, Sora, Slovenia, group exhibition, 18. 12. 2023 - 18. 1. 2024
"Leto konja" (Year of the Horse), Simon Jenko Hall, Mavčiče, Slovenia, solo exhibition, 8. 12. 2023 - 22. 12. 2023
“Risba – Mednarodni festival likovnih umetnosti Kranj,” (Drawing – The International Fine Arts Festival Kranj), various galleries in Kranj, group exhibition, 5. 10. - 4. 11. 2023
"Smisao komunikacije" (The Purpose of Communication), Gallery of the Special Police, group exhibition, Zagreb, 1. - 15. 9. 2023
"Majski salon 2023 – Misterij Gea" (May Salon - GEA Mystery), Cultural Centre Delavski dom, Zagorje, Slovenia, group exhibition 16. 6.– 17. 8. 2023
"The Golden Calf's Home", Kranj House Gallery, Kranj, Slovenia, solo exhibition, 13. 6. - 9. 7.2023
"New Members' Exhibition," Small Gallery LDK, Kranj, Slovenia, group exhibition, 6. - 30. 6. 2023
"Dobimo se v Mariboru" (Let's Meet at Maribor), Gallery DLUM, Maribor, Slovenia, group exhibition, 9. 5. - 3. 6. 2023
"Papir naš vsakdanji" (Our Daily Paper), Gallery HDLU Pula, Istra, Croatia, group exhibition, 29. 4. - 25. 5. 2023
2022
"Živina, grunta korenina!" (roughly translated as: "Livestock, the Root of the Estate!"), Trainstation Subart Street Gallery, Kranj, Slovenia, solo exhibition, August - September 2022
2020
"I3", ZKD Kranj, Slovenia, solo exhibition, 13. 10. - 15. 11. 2020
“Ex-Tempore Karneval”, Ptuj City Gallery, Slovenia, group exhibition, 14. 2. - 4. 3. 2020
2018
“Funnaminal Menagerie”, James Joyce Foundation, Zürich, Switzerland, solo exhibition, 16. 7. - 11. 8. 2018
“HARP 2018”, Barnag, Hungary, group exhibition, 5. 8. 2018
“Lineage and Legacy: The Imaged Horse”, Ucross Gallery, Clearmont, Wyoming, USA, group exhibition, 5. 3. - 9. 6. 2018
“The Artbox Project New York 1.0”, Stricoff Gallery, Art Quartier Chelsea, New York, USA, group exhibition, 5. - 17. 3. 2018
2017
“HARP 2017”, Barnag, Hungary, group exhibition, 9. 8. 2017
“The ArtBox Project Basel 1.0”, Euroairport, Basel, Switzerland, group exhibition, 14. - 18. 6. 2017
2016
Master’s Exhibition: “Golden Calf”; Stara Zadruga Mavčiče, Kranj, Slovenia, solo exhibition; 30. 9. - 7. 10. 2016
2015
“Graphic Spring”; Academy of Fine Arts Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; group exhibition; 21. - 27. 12. 2015
“Graphic Spring”, CGU Maribor, Slovenia; group exhibition; 1. - 30. 10. 2015
“Battery: Graphics”; Cafe Gallery Pungert, Kranj, Slovenia; solo exhibition; 8. 4. - 5. 5. 2015
“Art Students’ Exposition”; Vakuum Gallery, Ljubljana, Slovenia; group exhibition; 16. - 23. 4. 2015
Semester HGB Exhibition; HGB Leipzig, Germany; group exhibition; 12. - 15. 2. 2015
“Zum Mitnehmen”; art event and interactive exhibition at HGB Leipzig, Germany; group exhibition; 29. 1. 2015
2014
Semester ALUO Exhibition; ALUO, Ljubljana, Slovenia; group exhibition, 6. - 30. 6. 2014
“Midas”; solo art performance; outdoor studio in Kranj, Slovenia; 16. 6. 2014
“Month of Culture” Exhibition; Hostel Celica, Ljubljana, Slovenia; group exhibition; 5. - 27. 3. 2014
“U35”; Sokolski dom, Škofja Loka, Slovenia; group exhibition; 3. - 22. 1. 2014
2013
“Young Artists and Charity”; Crystal Palace BTC, Ljubljana, Slovenia; group exhibition; 21. - 28. 11. 2013
“Beauty and Gold”; CSD Ljubljana, Slovenia; solo exhibition; 4. 10. 2012 - 22. 1. 2013
2012
“Entrance”; Alkatraz Gallery, Ljubljana, Slovenia; group exhibition; 20. 6. – 2. 7. 2012
Art prizes and awards
2023
Ex-Tempore 1st prize at “Ex-tempore Sora,” Sora, Slovenia, 18. 12. 2023
Ex-Tempore main prize at “Premio Arte Coseano” (Art Award Coseano), 24 Anni D’Arte, Coseano, Italy, 24. 9. 2023
Art quality recognition award for the main prize at “Premio Arte Coseano” (Art Award Coseano), 24 Anni D’Arte, Coseano, Italy, 24. 9. 2023
Main prize for the Quality of Artwork at "Slovenija, odprta za umetnost" (Slovenia, Open for Art), 31. International Art Symposium, Sinji Vrh nad Ajdovščino, (SI), 18. - 26. 6. 2023
Residencies
2023
"Slovenija, odprta za umetnost" (Slovenia, Open for Art), 31. International Art Symposium, Sinji Vrh nad Ajdovščino, (SI), 18. - 26. 6. 2023
2018
"HARP" (Horse and Art Research Program) Artist Residency, Barnag (HU), 27. 7. – 8. 8. 2018
2017
"HARP" (Horse and Art Research Program) Artist Residency, Barnag (HU), 29. 7. – 11. 8. 2017