Typical motifs include large formats, unusual plots, vivid colours, deliberate incompleteness, imperfection, materiality, interaction and inter-disciplinary character. Since 2014, Justina Gražytė has been focusing on mixed media, art quilts and fabric art (commonly referred to as needlework). While “old vs new” is not a new theme in modern culture, traditional quilting is not a widespread technique and it is rarely transformed into new and modern forms of contemporary art familiar to and embraced by the audience. The author has deliberately selected this form of expression in order to broaden the perspective of contemporary textile in Lithuania, extend the interpretation of the quilting technique and make it current by using unexpected elements, fabrics, and forms, by combining them and at the same time establishing a personal creative identity of her as a textile artist.
Justina Gražytė graduated from the Faculty of Visual and Applied Arts, Vilnius Academy of Arts, with a Bachelor’s degree in Textile in 2010 and a Master’s degree in the same field in 2012. Prominent aspects of her extensive career include theatre, graphic design and gallery projects. Since 2008, she has been an active participant of cultural events and exhibitions. She has also worked as an exhibition curator. She initiates and works on various cultural and cultural education projects.
CV | Curriculum Vitae
Education
Graduate (Master of Arts): 2017– partial studies | Vilnius Academy of Arts (VAA, Lithuania): Master’s studies, programme: Cultural Management and Cultural Policy; 2010–2012 | Vilnius Academy of Arts (VAA, Lithuania): Master’s studies, programme: Textile; 2010–2012 | Vilnius Academy of Arts (VAA): Art and Technologies Teacher Qualification. Undergraduate (Bachelor of Arts): 2006–2010 | Vilnius Academy of Arts (VAA, Lithuania): Bachelor’s degree, programme: Textile; Secondary: 1995–2006 | Minties Gymnasium of Vilnius, Lithuania.
Additional training and seminars
October 2019 | Training Seminar for Lithuanian Art Galleries (I. Communication and Marketing on Social Networks; II. Reputation and Image) (VAA, Lithuania);
February 2016 | Didactics of Art in Pre-School and Pre-Primary Education (VAA, Open School of Art, Design and Architecture, Lithuania);
November 2015 | Child Wellbeing and Education of a Child (Albert Janssens, CESMOO, Belgium);
November 2015 | Non-Formal Learning: The Path to a Free and Creative Personality (Lithuanian Centre of Non-Formal Youth Education, Lithuania);
October 2015 | Creative Industries Global Network (CIGN). Building Independent Learning Skills, Developing Entrepreneurship, Creativity and Involvement in Research (Belgium);
June 2015 | Training Course in Pre-primary Education: Contemporary Education Guidelines (Centre for Innovation and Competence Development, Lithuania);
May 2015 | Didactics of Art in Primary Education (VAA, Open School of Art, Design and Architecture, Lithuania);
March 2015 | Mitten Felting Course by Litwool UAB (Lithuania);
November 2012 | Desktop Publishing (Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign),
Adobe Photoshop) by Penki kontinentai (Lithuania);
2006 (7 months) | American English School (Lithuania): English;
2005 (3 years) | J. Vienožinskis Art School (Lithuania): General Fine Arts Course, additional activities.
Work experience
October 2019–present | Manager of VAA gallery Artifex (Vilnius Academy of Arts); December 2020-present | Manager of VAA Art and Design Store (Vilnius Academy of Arts); January 2019–October 2019 | Coordinator/Volunteer of VAA Gallery Artifex (Vilnius Academy of Arts); November 2015–January 2019 | Acting Director of Public Institution Vilnius Children and Youth Art Gallery; September 2015–November 2016 | Project Manager of Public Institution Vilnius Children and Youth Art Gallery; September 2015–June 2016 | Lecturer of Vilnius College, Faculty of Pedagogy, Department of Education (subjects taught: Children’s Art and Technologies Methodology, Primary Education Art and Technologies Methodology, Visual Communication); May 2014–December 2018 | Lecturer in Vilnius Academy of Arts, Open School of Art, Design and Architecture; September 2014–September 2015 | Tour Manager of Public Institution Comedy Theatre; March 2013–September 2014 | Costume Manager/Administrator of Public Institution Cultural Management Projects; March 2013–September 2013 | Graphic Designer for Steparc UAB; August 2011–March 2013 | Designer/Layout Designer for Skaitmeninis amžius UAB; From 2011 | Freelancer: graphical design and layout design; July 2011 | Internship in the gallery Meno niša; July 2011 | Internship in LITEXPO art fair ArtVilnius’11; 2010–2011 | Volunteer (art therapy) in Vilnius Children's Hospital Branch, Child Development Centre, Children’s Psychiatric Department.
Exhibitions, projects, curatorial activities
June 2024 | Vilnius Academy of Art | Graduation Show | Project Manager (Lithuania); July 2023 | LTQ'23: Communities | 5th Lithuanian Quadrennial of Contemporary Art (participant); VAA exhibition space TITANIKAS LAA Vilnius Chapter Community Exposition (curated by Aistė Kisarauskaitė and Linas Liandzbergis); June 2023 - January 2024 | exhibition "Green" M. K. Čiurlionis Art Museum, Kaunas (curated by Giedrė Jankevičiūtė, Daina Kamarauskienė) (participant); February 2022 | Pesonal exhibition "2052" at the VDA gallery AKADEMIJA; June - November 2021 Co-author of the exhibition "Lake Full of Stars" at the MO Museum, (textile part); Textiles for the exhibition were created by: Justina Gražytė, Eglė Lekevičiūtė December 2020 - September 2021 | Solo exhibition "Evolution" at Panemune Castle (Pilies I k., Jurbarkas district); 2020 | Compilation of the catalogue of the VAA Textile Gallery's ARTIFEX 10-year activity; ISBN 978-609-8287-00-4; April 2000 | Spontaneous installation/exhibition CULTURAL VIRUSES at VAA gallery Artifex (Vilnius, Lithuania, Vilnius Academy of Arts); 2019 - 2000 | Exhibition WHITE SALAD of Vilnius Academy of Arts Vilnius Faculty staff, VAA VF, Vilnius 2019 - 2000 | International Biennial of Textile Miniatures MATMUO (MESURE), Art Gallery Arka; Čiurlionis Memorial Museum, Druskininkai; Janina Monkute-Marks Museum-Gallery, Kedainiai; 2019 | Solo exhibition TO BE CONTINUED… in VAA gallery Artifex (Vilnius, Lithuania, Vilnius Academy of Arts); 2019 | Educational Booth Activity Coordinator in Contemporary Art Fair ArtVilnius’2019 (gallery Meno niša); 2018 | Miškas. Visai nevaikiškai (Forest. Not Childish at all) (project manager); 2018 | Project VISAI NEVAIKIŠKA (Not Childish at all); Exhibition VAIKAS MANYJE (A CHILD IN ME) in Vilnius Children and Youth Art Gallery (project manager and curator of the exhibition); 2018 | Dailininkės vaikams: 1918 - 1940 knygų ir periodikos vaikams ir jaunimui iliustracijos (Artists for Children: Illustrations in Children’s Books and Periodicals of 1918–1940) (project manager); 2018 | Artišokas (Artichoke) alternative creative youth evenings (project manager); 2018 | Mobile children and youth art gallery MENO PORTALAS (ART PORTAL) (project manager); 2017 | Exhibition Baubui – 30 (Boogaboo Turns 30) by Ilja Bereznickas (curator of the exhibition); 2017 | Meno skiepai (Art Vaccine) (project manager); 2017 | Meno portalas (Art Portal) (project manager and curator of the exhibition); 2017 | Reading promotion initiative Kūrybiški skaitymai: Kazys Bradūnas (Creative Reading: Kazys Bradūnas) (project manager); December 2016 | Exhibition ANGELAI (ANGELS) (Vilnius Children and Youth Art Gallery, Lithuania) (curator and participant of the exhibition); 2016 | Reading promotion initiative Kūrybiški skaitymai (Creative Reading) (project manager); 2016 | Cultural education project K.E.I.S.K.I.S! (C.H.A.N.G.E!) (project manager); 2015 | Project for promotion of positive impact of art on human wellbeing Kurkime kartu (Let’s Create Together!) (project manager); March 2015 | Sugrįžimai IV (Comebacks IV), Textile Gallery–Workshop Artifex, Vilnius, Lithuania; March 2013 | Exhibition of students of the VAA Department of Textile Nuo pareiškimo iki paminklo (From Statement to Monument), Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Warsaw, Poland; November 2012 | Baltic Expro. Jaunieji menininkai apie švietimo projektus (Baltic Expro. Young Artists About Education Projects), Contemporary Art Center (CAC), Lithuania; June 2012 | Exhibition of best graduation works of VAA Bachelor and Master students Meno celės (Art Cells) in VAA Design and Innovation Center Titanikas; October 2011 | Project Padėk atskleisti neįgaliųjų kūrybines galias (Help Reveal the Creative Potential of the Disabled), Lithuanian Society of People with Intellectual Disability Viltis, Lithuania (participant); September 2011 | International Biennial of Textile Miniatures IŠNYKTI/IŠLIKTI (VANISH/SURVIVE), Art Gallery Arka; November 2010 | International Textile Art Exhibition Identity, Latvian Academy of Art, Riga; October 2010 | Exhibition of spatial objects by students of VAA Department of Textile: Tekstilė. Technika. Energija (Textile. Technology. Energy), Lithuanian Energy and Technology Museum.
Appreciations
2020 | Granted the Status of Art Creator by Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania;
2020 | Individual grant to culture and art creators, by Lithuanian Council for Culture.
Publications and press
• Interviu with Justina Gražytė about her exhibition „Evolution“ in Panemunė Castle and the accompanying educations // „Mūsų laikas“ (Our time) (Jurbarkas city and district in Lithuania newspaper) Nr. 11, 2021 03 19; • Publications of artworks // 10 th year anniversary catalogue of VAA textile gallery Artifex activity // „Standartų spaustuvė“, 2020 // p. 18,19,51 // ISBN 978-609-8287-00-4; VDA tekstilės galerijos Artifex 10-ties metų veiklos katalogas // „Standartų spaustuvė“, 2020 // p. 18,19,51 // ISBN 978-609-8287-00-4; • Rita Mikučionytė // Rugsėjo kilpa (A Curve of September) // Review of five exhibitions // 7 meno dienos No. 31 (1310), 04/10/2019; • Monika Krikštopaitytė // Vaikystės revizija (Revision of Childhood) // Exhibition Vaikas manyje (A Child in Me) in Vilnius Children and Youth Art Gallery // 7 meno dienos No. 12 (1291), 22/03/2019; • Austėja Mikuckytė-Mateikienė // BE MENTORIŠKO ŽVILGSNIO “IŠ VIRŠAUS” (WITHOUT A TOP-DOWN LOOK OF A MENTOR) // Kultūros barai, No. 3. p. 66 -67 // Public Institution Kultūros barai Publishing House, 2019 (ISSN 01 34-3106); • Publication of the work Sargis (Guard) // Lithuanian Radio and Television programme Labas rytas, Lietuva, 06:25-06:26; 10/10/2017; • Exhibition Angelai (Angels) // Kultūros barai, No. 12. p. 39 // Public Institution Kultūros barai Publishing House, 2016 (ISSN 01 34-3106); • Publication of the work Sargis (Guard) // Kultūros barai, No. 12. p. 97 // Public Institution Kultūros barai Publishing House, 2016 (ISSN 01 34-3106); • Publication of the work Kalbėk su savo katinu, jis tikrai prašneks (Talk to Your Cat and he will Talk Back) // Šiaurės atėnai No. 44, p. 5., 2012; • Biomenas: žmogaus galimybių ribos (BioArt: Human Limitations) // Catalogue of the exhibition Meno celės (Art Cells). Vilnius Academy of Arts Publishing House, 2012; • Report Biomenas: žmogaus galimybių ribos (BioArt: Human Limitations) in the conference Unity of Science and Art in Modern Textile Research, Kaunas University of Technology // Kaunas University of Technology newspaper Studijų aidai, 2011, No. 20 (2195) • Vienalytis (Unisex) // Catalogue of the 7th International Biennial of Textile Miniatures, p. 13, 2011; • Paviršiaus atkartojimas (Surface Replication) (1), p.264; Paviršiaus atkartojimas (Surface Replication) (2), p. 266 // Bogdanienė Eglė Ganda. Meninis veltinys. Tradicija ir dabartis (Artistic Felt. Tradition and the Present). Vilnius Academy of Arts Publishing House, 2010.