In my work, images and stories emerge from reflections on the body, space, and memory – on the places, people, and moments we carry within ourselves and that shape who we are.
Through various media, from painting and drawing to animation and installation, I explore how the visible and the invisible can merge in a single moment and space – existing in a compression measured by feeling and presence.
For me, art is a way of being in dialogue with the world, a place where I seek and find silence, the rhythm of breathing, and the wonder of recognition.
Manuela Vladić – Maštruko
Biography
Manuela Vladić-Maštruko (b. 1962) graduated in Painting from the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb in 1985, in the class of Professor Ferdinand Kulmer.
During her studies she began exhibiting her work and after graduation, she continued her active presence on the art scene. She has held numerous solo and group exhibitions in Croatia and abroad (Germany, Italy, Slovakia, China, Iran, Bulgaria, Slovenia…).
Her artistic practice spans a wide range of media – from painting, drawing, and illustration to animation, installation, computer games and set and costume design. She explores the expressive possibilities of various visual and hybrid forms, often creating a dialogue between visual, musical, and performing arts.
She has undertaken professional study trips and residencies in Italy, France, and Slovakia.
Alongside her artistic career, she has been deeply engaged in art education and creativity across age groups. In 1995, she founded the Mela Art Studio for Children and Youth, which, for more than twenty years, served as a space for artistic growth and imagination.
She is the author of numerous multimedia projects for children and adults and has collaborated with museums and galleries in developing educational programs related to art and heritage.
She publishes essays and professional articles on illustration, participates in international conferences, and has served on juries for major illustration events (Croatian Biennial of Illustration, Grigor Vitez Award, Biennial of Illustration Bratislava).
In 2014, she founded Arte Insula, an association for intercultural dialogue, within which she develops artistic, educational, and publishing projects.
A significant part of her career is dedicated to art for children: she is the author and illustrator of fifteen original picture books and has illustrated numerous works by Croatian and international authors.
Today she focuses on painting and drawing, exploring themes of identity, memory, and the relationship between inner and outer worlds.
She has received numerous national and international awards, and her works are included in both private and public art collections.
Manuela is a member of the Croatian Association of Artists, the Croatian Writers’ Association, and the Croatian Association for Research in Children’s Literature.
She lives and works in Zadar, in a house by the sea.
Solo Exhibitions (selected)
2026 – History of Ailments, Reading, Joy, Sorrow and Ageing (Metamorphoses), Josip Račić Gallery of National Museum of Modern Art, Zagreb, Croatia
2023 – Little White Laundress Fishes, European Heritage Days, City Guard, Ethnological Department of the National Museum Zadar, Croatia, Zadar
2022 – Little White Laundress Fishes / Towards the Museum of Preko Laundresses, Preko, Ugljan Island, Croatia
2019 – Two Picture Book Creators from Zadar, University of Zadar, Child and Book Conference (with Dubravka Kolanović), Zadar, Croatia
2017 – How I Weave Stories, Oblok Gallery, KGZ Sesvete, Zagreb, Croatia
– Kupola Gallery, KGZ Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
2015 – The Island of Childhood, Miran Jarac Public Library, Novo Mesto, Slovenia
2014 – Gentle Giants, PUO Dom na žalu Gallery, (with Dubravka Kolanović), Ugljan Island, Preko ,Croatia
2013 – The Island of Childhood II, Nasta Rojc Gallery, City Museum of Bjelovar, Bjelovar, Croatia
– The Island of Childhood III, PUO Dom na žalu Gallery, Ugljan Island, Preko, Croatia
2009 – The Island of Childhood I, Museum-Gallery Kula, Veli Lošinj, Croatia
– The Island of Childhood I, Arsenal Gallery, Hvar, Croatia
2006 – Ouroboros or Before and After, Vladimir Nazor Gallery, Zagreb, Croatia
2005 – ZILIK Gallery, Karlovac, Croatia
– The Dress of an Invisible Body, Idealni grad Gallery, Centre for Culture and Education Susedgrad, Zagreb, Croatia
2003 – Melissa in the Candyland, Studio of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Zagreb, Croatia
2001 – Consume Art I, Karas Gallery, Zagreb, Croatia
– Consume Art II, OK Gallery, Rijeka, Croatia
1997 – Miroslav Kraljević Gallery, Zagreb, Croatia
1990 – Scorpion Gallery, Munich, Germany
– National and University Library, Zagreb, Croatia
1989 – CZKO Moša Pijade Gallery, Zagreb Croatia
1988 – HDLUZ, Expanded Media Gallery, Zagreb, Croatia
– Cultural Information Centre, Zagreb, Croatia
1987 – Student Centre Gallery (with V. Delimar and D. Lošić), Zagreb, Croatia
– Sesame Gallery, Dubrovnik, Croatia
– Motovun Gallery, Motovun, Croatia
1986 – Vladimir Nazor Gallery, Zagreb, Croatia
– Spektar Gallery, Centre for Culture Novi Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Awards and Recognitions
2026 – iJungle Illustration Award, Merit Award (Self-Promotion Category), China
2025 – iJungle Illustration Award, Merit Award 2024 (Book category), for the picture book Little White Laundress Fishes (Bijele ribice lavandijerice), China
2022 – Grigor Vitez Award for Best Illustration, for the picture book Little White Laundress Fishes, Zagreb, Croatia
– Merit of the Grigor Vitez Award for preserving the Chakavian dialect and island heritage, in the picture book Little White Laundress Fishes, Zagreb, Croatia
– Award of the Municipality of Preko for contribution to culture and promotion of island heritage, Preko, Island of Ugljan, Croatia
2019 – First Prize, Supertoon International Animation Festival for the film Snail the Painter (Pužić slikar), Šibenik, Croatia
– Ovca u kutiji (Sheep in a Box) Award, Professional Jury Prize for Best Croatian Picture Book for the picture book Cic and Mic, Zagreb, Croatia
2018 – Merit of Grigor Vitez Award — for the picture book Cic and Mic, Zagreb, Croatia
2017 – IlluBook Fest Award for innovative approach to illustration for the picture book Otto and Valentina, Novi Sad, Srbija
2016 – IBBY Honour List Diploma, for the picture book Marino, Auckland, New Zealand
– Ministry of Culture of Croatia Award — for the picture book Otto and Valentina, Zagreb, Croatia
2014 – Merit of Grigor Vitez Award, for the picture book Mauro – the Blue Whale, Zagreb, Croatia
2013 – Ovca u kutiji (Sheep in a Box), Professional Jury Award for Best Croatian Picture Book, for the picture book Mauro – the Blue Whale, Zagreb, Croatia
2010 – Third Prize, 3rd Croatian Biennial of Illustration, Zagreb, Croatia
– Ovca u kutiji, (Sheep in a Box), Children’s Jury Award, for the picture book The Blue Nightingale (Plavi slavuj, Maja Brajko Livaković), Zagreb, Croatia
2007 – Festival of the Firsts Award – Social Responsibility of Capital, for the multimedia project Happiness (Sreća), Zagreb, Croatia
2005 – Ovca u kutiji (Sheep in a Box), Best Croatian Picture Book, for the picture book The Adventure of Otto the Spider (Pustolovina pauka Ota), Zagreb, Croatia
– Mention of Grigor Vitez, for the art design of the edition Good Day, Mr. Andersen, Zagreb, Croatia
1990 – Purchase Award, National and University Library, 22nd Youth Salon, Zagreb, Croatia
1988 – Moša Pijade Fund Award for Advancement of Visual Arts, Zagreb, Croatia
1987 – Mention of 6th Zadar Youth Salon, Zadar, Croatia
1985 – Gorica ’85 Painting Colony Award, Crikvenica, Croatia
Artistic Residencies and Professional Development
2025 – International workshop on stop-motion animation led by Lana Tanakosa Nikolić and Martina Scarpelli, Zagreb Film, Komiža, Vis Island, Croatia
2020 – International workshop Music and Sound Dramaturgy in Animation led by Vjeran Šalomon, Zagreb Film, Komiža, Vis Island, Croatia
2016 – International workshop Acting for Animators led by Ed Hooks, Zagreb Film, Komiža, Vis Island, Croatia
2016 – Grant of the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia for Literary Creativity, Zagreb, Croatia
2007 – UNESCO Illustrators’ Workshop Albin Brunovsky led by Professor Luboslav Palo, BIB
2006 – Art Colony Artistic Voice For… Mali Lošinj, Croatia
1988 – Residency at Cité Internationale des Arts, Grant of the Moša Pijade Fund for the Advancement of Fine Arts, Paris, France
1986 – Scholarship of the Italian Cultural Centre, Rome, Italy
1985 – Art Colony Toč 85, Crikvenica, Croatia
Group Exhibitions (selected)
2026 – 2nd If Trees Could Talk International Art Biennale, CANVAS, the Centre for Art, New Ventures and Sustainable Development, Quezon City Philippines
– iJungle Illustration Award Exhibition, China
– Froth on the Daydream, Contemporary Croatian Art, Kunstlerhaus Factory, Vienna , Austria
2025 – iJungle Illustration Award Exhibition, China
– Paradigmatic Rhythms of Anesthesia, HDLU of Istria, Pula, Croatia
– Character on the Road Exhibition, Pictoplasma x Balkans, The Railway Station Gallery, Varna, Bulgaria
– 3rd Biennale of Drawing, HDLU of Istria, Pula, Croatia
2024 – Peace International Illustration Exhibition, Gallery of the House of Iranian Artists, Teheran, Iran
2023 – 28th Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
2019 – 27th Biennale of Illustrations Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
– IlluBook Fest, Novi Sad, Serbia
2018 – IlluBook Fest, Novi Sad, Serbia
2017 – 26th Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
– IlluBook Fest, Novi Sad, Serbia
2016 – 5th Croatian Biennale of Illustration, Klovićevi dvori Gallery, Zagreb, Croatia
2015 – Bologna Book Fair, Deep Waters and Harbors of Childhood, exhibition of Croatian illustrators, Bologna, Italy
– 25th Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
2014 – 5th Croatian Biennale of Illustration, Zagreb, Croatia
2013 – 24th Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
2011 – Simultaneity of Genesis, ULUPUH Gallery, Zagreb, Croatia
– 4th Croatian Biennale of Illustration, Klovićevi dvori Gallery, Zagreb, Croatia
– 23rd Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
– Good Evening, Mr Andersen, Bjelovar City Museum (with M. Kraus and M. Hajdinjak), Bjelovar, Croatia
2010 – 42nd Zagreb Salon, HDLU, Zagreb, Croatia
– 3rd Croatian Biennial of Illustration, Klovićevi dvori Gallery, Zagreb, Croatia
2009 – 22nd Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
2008 – Me and My Flag, concept by Ana Lendvaj, ULUPUH Gallery, Zagreb, Croatia
– 2nd Croatian Biennial of Illustration, Klovićevi dvori Gallery, Zagreb, Croatia
2007 – 21st Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
– 10 + 1, Multimedia Centre of the City of Rovinj, Croatia
– Project Happiness, 5th Festival of Firsts, Prozori Gallery, Zagreb, Croatia
2006 – 40th Zagreb Salon, Gliptoteka HAZU, Zagreb, Croatia
– 1st Croatian Biennial of Illustration, Klovićevi dvori Gallery, Zagreb, Croatia
2005– 20th Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
2003 – 19th Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
2002 – 36th Zagreb Salon, HDLU, Zagreb, Croatia
2001 – 18th Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
1997 – Croatian Artists Against Leukaemia and Lymphoma, Paulina Rieloff Gallery, Centre for Global Cultural Expression, New York, USA
1996 – 1st Croatian Triennial of Drawing, Cabinet of Graphics HAZU, Zagreb, Croatia
1995 – 30th Zagreb Salon, Klovićevi dvori Gallery, Zagreb, Croatia
1993 – New Croatian Art, Museum of Modern Art, Zagreb, Croatia
1992 – 32nd Annalee, Istrian Assembly Hall, Poreč, Croatia
1991 – 16th Youth Biennial, Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Rijeka, Croatia
1990 – Who Are You, Mr. Umpah-Pah?, Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana, Slovenia
– Garten Eden, Meneghello Gallery, Munich, Germany
– The Colour of Thirst – Aspects of Life, GEDOK, Hannover, Germany
– 16th Exhibition of Yugoslav Graphics, JAZU Cabinet of Graphics, Zagreb, Croatia
– 25th Zagreb Salon, Art Pavilion, Zagreb, Croatia
– 9th Yugoslav Biennial of Small Sculpture, Keptar Szombathely, Hungary, Moscow, USSR
– 13th Blue Salon, City Loggia, Zadar, Croatia
– 22nd Youth Salon, Karas Gallery, Zagreb, Croatia
1989 – 5th Yugoslav Sculpture Exhibition, Contemporary Gallery, Pančevo, Serbia
– 9th Yugoslav Biennial of Small Sculpture, KC “Miško Kranjec” Gallery, Murska Sobota, Slovenia
– 21st Youth Salon, Art Pavilion, Zagreb, Croatia
– 8th Dubrovnik Salon, Art Gallery, Dubrovnik, Croatia
– 8th Zadar Youth Salon, Art Gallery, Zadar, Croatia
– Who Are You, Mister Umpah–Pah?, Bologna, Italy
– 9th Yugoslav Biennial of Small Sculpture, Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana, Slovenia
1988 – 7th Youth Salon, Art Gallery, Zadar, Croatia
– 3rd Triennial of Croatian Sculpture, Gliptoteka, Zagreb, Croatia
1987 – 14th Youth Biennial, Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Rijeka, Croatia
– 19th Youth Salon, Art Pavilion, Zagreb, Croatia
– 6th Youth Salon, Art Gallery, Zadar, Croatia
1986 – 5th Youth Salon, Art Gallery, Zadar, Croatia
1985 – 4th Zadar Youth Salon, Art Gallery, Zadar, Croatia
– 18th Youth Salon, Art Pavilion, Zagreb, Croatia
Urban Actions and Installations in Public Space
2003 – Cradle, Olympic Games, Athens, Greece
2002 – Take a Rest, Urban Festival, Zagreb, Croatia
1995 – Mikulići 95, author’s concept of multimedia cultural events for the restoration of the Pongrace Manor, Zagreb, Croatia
1986 – Cultural Solidarity Gračani, Zagreb, Croatia
1985 – PUNZ 85, Little Mimara, Sloboština, Zagreb, Croatia
