I am a Bosnian-born artist based in Utrecht, the Netherlands, and a graduate of HKU (Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht). My work originates from the stories of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina that I grew up hearing but never experienced myself. These memories were often shared during family gatherings, where horrific events were recounted with striking normality. Growing up listening to these conversations profoundly shaped my relationship to memory and storytelling.
Supported by the Mondriaan Fund Start Stipendium, I spent an extended period in Bosnia interviewing family members and recording their stories. This experience deepened my connection to my heritage and marked a turning point in my practice, leading me toward more figurative painting.
My work explores war, trauma, and cultural heritage through an illusory visual language. At first glance, the paintings appear soft and dreamlike, but closer inspection reveals fragmented figures and unsettling details. This tension between beauty and brutality reflects the way trauma often remains hidden beneath the surface.
I am interested in how personal and collective histories intertwine, how memories are transmitted across generations, and how inherited experiences shape identity. Through painting, I archive and retell the stories I grew up with, creating a dialogue between past and present. Ultimately, my work is not only about war itself, but about its lasting impact on people and families, and about the quiet persistence of memory.
Awards/nominations
Nominated Royal award for modern painting
2026
Mondrian Fund ‘Artist start’
2022
Galerie Pouloeuff Public’s Prize
2020
Exhibitions:
Solo & duo exhibitions:
2023 ‘Warlords and citykids’ Elma Čavčić & Rood Kok, Kunsthal Kloof, Utrecht
2022 ‘Combined realities’ EXBOOT, Utrecht
2022 Past is present’ with Jovana Štulić, Projectspace LOKAAL, Utrecht
2022 ‘Ljubavni sudar’ Duo solo with Jovana Štulić at H47, Leeuwarden
2020 Solo at Baak Seaside, Noordwijk
2019 Moving Gallery, Utrecht
2018 ‘Simultaneously: Left right, Right wrong’ Scoop, Utrecht
Group exhibitions:
2026 Royal award for modern painting 2026, Royal Palace, Amsterdam
2025 DE 11 STEMMEN VAN SREBRENICA, Nationaal Monument Kamp Vught
2025 DE 11 STEMMEN VAN SREBRENICA, FOTODOK Utrecht Together with Nicole Segers, Anita Karabašić and work of Robin de Puy.
2025 Bearing witness, Kunst ruimte Willem Twee, Den Bosch
2025 Bearing witness, Platform POST, Arnhem
2024 ‘Kloof United’, Kunsthal Kloof, Utrecht
2024 ‘Purple blues’, Galerie SANAA, Utrecht
2023 ‘A Never-Ending Narrative‘, TROEF Leiden, Leiden
2023 ‘PROSPECTS’ Mondrian fund, Art Rotterdam, Rotterdam
2022 ‘Allegory of the Brave‘ Kunstpodium T, Tilburg
2022 ‘Kollektion Kitsch’ Worm Wunderbar, Rotterdam
2021 ‘Vrijheid van nu’ Galerie Pouloeuf, Naarden
2020 ‘Simpel Impact Factory’ Global Goal 10, SIF, Utrecht
2020 ‘ARTISTINTHEWORLD Utrecht Edition’ Galerie Larik, Utrecht
2020 ‘Borgerstraat Openstudios’ Art week Rotterdam
2019 ‘Keilecontemporary#3′ Har.art Gallery, Rotterdam
2019 ‘Theatraal’ ZONDERPUNT collective, Frame.de.Galerie, Amersfoort
2019 ‘Twentyfourseven’, Academy gallery, Utrecht
2018 ‘This Art Fair 2018’, Beurs van Berlage, Amsterdam
2018 ‘KUNST IN /K’ Studio K, Amsterdam
2018 ‘On my way to the Galatic Supermarket, need anything?’ Garage Rotterdam, Rotterdam
2018 ‘ALLES KOMT GOED’ Atelier 014, Utrecht
2017 ‘Reflection’ Bcademie Wandschappen, Rotterdam
2017 ‘Looking for trouble‘ Casco/Fotodok, Utrecht
2017 ‘Exposure‘ HKU, Utrecht
Set Design:
2019 Short movie: ‘Cloud Forest’ by Eliane Esther Bots
32 Filmfest Dresden (DE) // Go Short, European Competition, Nijmegen (NL) // Eye on Art, Eye Filmmuseum, Amsterdam (NL) // Movies that Matter Film Festival, The Hague (NL) // Glasgow Short Film Festival, International Competition, Glasgow // Nederlands Film Festival, Utrecht (NL) // Uppsala International Short Film Festival, International Competition, (SE) // Dokument Film Festival, Glasgow (SCH) // Kassel Dokfest, International Competition (DE) // Eastern Neighbours Film Festival, The Hague (NL)
Articles/ Publications:
Arte France. Pays-Bas : le douloureux souvenir du « Dutchbat ». 11-07-2025
In deze exposities over Srebrenica gaan de hoofdrolspelers niet dood. NRC. 09-07-2025
Kunst als herinnering aan een tijd die ze niet meemaakte. Volkskrant. 03-06-2025
After War – Bearing Witness at POST Arnhem and Willem Twee Den Bosch, 23-03-2025
De Groene Amsterdammer, Groene Gordijnen, 19-02-2025
Balkan Art Scene – Ljubavni Sudar
Ljubavni Sudar, liefdevolle botsing tussen twee vrouwenlevens, Leeuwarder Courant
Gooi- en Eemlander, 11-02-2021: ‘Over vrij, en niet vrij zijn’
Kunstwerkboek deel 2, Axion Continu
Culemburgse courant, Klaas en klant, Vlucht, 07-04-2019
Graduation Show 2017: HKU. 24 JUNE 2017 – Metropolis M
Beeldreportage afstudeerexamens 2018: July 2018 – Kunstzone
LECTURES/ TALKS
2023 Podcast Kunst is Lang episode 249
2022 Uitzending RouteC RTV Utrecht
2022 NOS uitzending Oorlog in Oekraïne en Bosnië
2021 Young Collectors Circle Festival, FRESH TALENT studio visit LINK
2020 Het Srebrenica Monument. Reflecties over de rol van een nieuw monument in de stad van Vrede en Recht. Gastspreker, Stroom Den Haag
2020 Radio NPO2 Bosnië door de ogen van de generatie ’95
2019 Artist talk Q&A Cloud forest, NFF
SIDE ACTIVITIES
2019 – 2022 Mentor brede basisopleiding, HKU (NL)