BARBARA BESTAK

Barbara Beštak (6.10. 1991, Zagreb) is an artist whose practice spans painting, material-based exploration, and participatory processes.

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She graduated from Mlinarska Secondary Medical School before enrolling at the Faculty of Science at the University of Zagreb with the intention of becoming a doctor. Realising that this path would not allow her to continue developing in the way she envisioned, she enrolled in Fashion Design at the Faculty of Textile Technology in Zagreb. She later discontinued her studies to focus on her work and the development of her own practice. During this period, she began working independently as a designer and presented two solo fashion shows in Zagreb and Split.

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In 2017, she left Croatia and moved to Iceland. While working there, she discovered the canvas as a medium and began developing her artistic language more intensively. She worked in kindergartens and schools, where she designed and led art projects with children. She is the creator of Superhero of the Town of Garðabær, a project that also gained recognition among European educational communities.

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For three years, she collaborated with a kindergarten theatre, creating costumes and scenography together with children. She also led independent workshops in photography, abstract expression, and ceramics for children. While in Iceland, she developed and sold art products made from sand, inspired by the local landscape. These products were available in four shops. Her ceramic collection of small sculptures is part of the retail selection at the Icelandic Phallological Museum in Reykjavík.

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She currently runs her own independent creative business in Zagreb, where she continues to develop her artistic practice through ceramics and sand-based works, while also leading workshops for children.

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Alongside her visual art practice, she creates music videos and original music for her YouTube channel, Lara Oceanside. Using loops and music production software, her own voice, and an electric piano, she has developed a distinctive expressive style rooted in intense emotional experiences, particularly those connected to intimacy and romantic relationships.