I was born in Zagreb, Croatia and lived in Triest, Italy and Caracas, Venezuela before immigrating to the United States at age fifteen and moving to Los Angeles. My father’s profession as an architect influenced my art interest, and this helped me adjust to these differing cultures.
As an artist I have worked in several media, including painting, ceramics and jewelry. In my early thirties I became interested in designing and painting furniture. I exhibited nationally and created numerous custom pieces. My furniture segued into a career in interior design, which incorporates media and practices from my prior art experience.
My current artwork explores the dynamic tension between wood and vellum paper. The wood is mostly sourced from nature: rivers, oceans and my garden. The diverse shapes of the branches challenge and define the forms in the piece. The transparency of the vellum paper allows for layering and painting, and by adding bronze wire, I can further define and expand the organic shape of the piece. This process is very intuitive and it’s a challenge to work with organic materials and discover their restraints and qualities.
My close observation of nature is the inspiration for this new work. I am intrigued by the variety of shapes and textures in plants and trees. These same qualities are repeated in a larger scale in our landscapes. Mountains and valleys rise and fall. Skies and bodies of water are changed by winds and currents. All is in constant flux. My own past experiences, travels, memories and afterimages add meaning to these organic canvases. I add my individual story as the shapes and textures reveal themselves to me. Through painting and the addition of color, the stage is set for the personal expression in my current artwork. Subtle shading, contrasting values and intricate detailing complete the narrative.
Exhibitions/Bio
Education
UCLA Art Major
UC Long Beach – Art Major with Bachelor of Arts and Secondary Teaching Credential
Undergraduate studies in metalsmithing
Professional
1975 -1981 Pacific Shores High School- Art Teacher
Manhattan Beach CA
1981 – 1993 Owner/ Director Wild Blue Gallery 7220 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles CA
1985 – 2010 Art Furniture -Custom and production line of painted furniture
1995- 2002 San Francisco CA and Baltimore MD
American Craft Council shows
2010-2023 Healdsburg Center for the Arts- Board Member
and Show curator
2008 to Present – Vesna Design and Color – Interior Designer
Gallery representation
Icaan Gallery, Manhattan Beach CA
Gallery of Functional Art, Santa Monica CA
Virginia Brier Gallery, San Francisco CA
Artful Eye Gallery, Calistoga CA
Healdsburg Center for the Arts, Healdsburg CA
- Howell Fine Art, Healdsburg CA
Paul Mahder Gallery, Healdsburg CA
Exhibitions
1976 “California Design” Pacific Design Center, Los Angeles CA
1982 Rudi Gernreich Fashion Show Los Angeles CA
1986 “American POP Culture Today“ La Foret Museum Tokyo Japan
1989 Gallery of Functional Art, Santa Monica CA
“The Seat of the Soul” Chair Art
“Illuminations” Lighting as Art
“Variations on a theme” Group Show
1990 “Furniture and Lighting” Joan Robey Gallery, Denver CO
“Screens and Boxes“ Gallery of Functional Art, Santa Monica CA
“Two Person Show” Wild Blue Gallery, Los Angeles CA
1991 ”Furniture and Lighting 1991” Joan Robey Gallery, Denver CO
“Westweek Installation” Pacific Design Center, Los Angeles CA
“Chair as Art III” Gallery of Functional Art, Santa Monica CA
1994 “The Container Show” Wild Blue Gallery, Los Angeles CA
“Spring Art Show” Two Artists Healdsburg Municipal Library, Healdsburg CA
1995 “Doors, Windows, Passages “ Icaan Gallery” Manhattan Beach CA
1996 Thomas Mann’s” Oxidation-Burial Project”
The Artful Eye, Calistoga CA
“Three women emerging” The Artful Eye, Calistoga CA
“Summer Show- Three Artists” Icaan Gallery,
Manhattan Beach CA
1997 “Eve-The Unfolding” Women Artist Group Show, The Artful Eye, Calistoga CA
“Winter Tapestry” The Artful Eye, Healdsburg CA
“Art on the Move” Healdsburg Arts Council, Healdsburg CA
“A Looking Glass Show” Langman Gallery, Willow Grove, PA
1999 “Vesna Breznikar and Terry Church- Two Person Show”
Lois Lambert Gallery, Santa Monica CA
2011 “Tins of Imagination” Healdsburg Center for the Arts,
Healdsburg CA
2018 “Figure Study- Hidden Story” Healdsburg Center for the Arts Healdsburg CA
2019 “A Sense of Place” Healdsburg Museum, Healdsburg CA
2022 “Home” Healdsburg Center for the Arts Healdsburg CA
2023 “International Fiber Arts XI” Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol CA
2024 “Pulp” Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol CA
2025 “Fiber Arts Now” Magazine- Spring 2025 Issue
Contemporary Fiber Show – “Botanicals”
2025 “International Fiber Arts XII” Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol CA
