Meet Nikolina Petolas

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nikolina Petolas.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started? 
Art has always been a powerful force in my life. I grew up in a war-torn environment, so fully pursuing it wasn’t an option at the time, but the desire to create never truly faded. Thankfully, I found my way back to art in my twenties, and it’s been an amazing experience ever since. 

Initially, I worked as a commercial photographer and graphic designer/illustrator. It provided valuable experience, but I always wanted to tell my own stories through unique visual narratives. As a child, I always imagined there was a hidden room in my grandmother’s house, a secret passage leading to a world I couldn’t see. My art captures that same feeling of wonder. It explores fantastical worlds filled with strange and beautiful creatures, just like the ones I imagined on the other side of that hidden door. 

So, I decided to take a chance and start creating my own art. It was a powerful urge to express myself creatively, to finally tell the stories I had inside me. Fortunately, it wasn’t long before my work started gaining recognition, and I received invitations to showcase it at international exhibitions. Having the opportunity to exhibit my art on a global platform opened new directions for me as an artist. Receiving positive feedback, especially from the well-respected European surrealist community, provided a sense of belonging and confirmed that I was indeed on the right creative path. 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The artist’s journey definitely has its bumps! Fortunately, I’ve been lucky to connect with some amazing people and galleries along the way. Traveling for exhibitions has allowed me to meet incredible artists and build a network of support, which is invaluable. 

Collaborating with major brands like Ferragamo and Marriott has been a fantastic experience – it’s always exciting to see my work reach a wider audience. However, being an artist can be a solitary pursuit at times. There are moments when you have to make crucial creative decisions without immediate feedback. These can be tough calls, requiring a lot of self-belief and trust in your artistic vision. Thankfully, the connections I’ve made through exhibitions and collaborations offer a sense of community and a space to share ideas, which helps tremendously during those times. It’s a constant process of experimentation and learning through trial and error, but that’s also part of the beauty of being an artist. 

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As a visual artist, I create detailed stories set within fantastical worlds using both traditional and digital tools. My work is known for its symbolism; it reflects on the ongoing quest for happiness and meaning. These narratives, often inspired by surrealist landscapes, fantasy, and science fiction, stem from my childhood experiences and relationships, but they’ve evolved into something more universal. 

This is a journey through a world that’s both comforting and strangely unsettling, an anti-utopia with a facade of perfection. I often incorporate animals or anthropomorphic figures to depict the relationship between nature and society, spanning through history and into an uncertain future. My characters, both human and animals, seem to seamlessly blend into these environments. They appear content, yet there’s an underlying tension, a sense of unease that permeates the beauty. We can’t quite shake the feeling that something’s amiss, that these seemingly perfect worlds could crumble at any moment. It encouraging viewers to question the truth behind the obvious and reveal the secrets that lie beneath. 

I’m incredibly proud of this world I’ve built. It’s been a labor of love, filled with long brainstorming sessions and preparations and a lots of travel to unusual locations for inspiration. 

What I find most fascinating is how viewers connect the pieces of the puzzle on their own. My characters appear across different stories and series, and it allows them to build personal interpretations of the larger narrative I’ve created. They’ve evolved into something universally relatable, inviting viewers to find the line between the ordinary and the magical and perhaps discover their own answers. 

The global reach of my work is truly humbling. Knowing it resonates with people across the world, regardless of background, is the greatest validation an artist can ask for. 

Having pieces in museums, galleries, and private collections around the world, along with over 30 international awards, is something I never imagined. 

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
As someone who has learned on my own, I haven’t had the opportunity to find a mentor through traditional routes like art schools. However, technology has made it possible to connect with mentors online through workshops and courses that are accessible from anywhere. This digital shift also applies to networking. Social media platforms provide avenues for artists to not only showcase their work but also to engage with others who share similar interests. It’s important to remember that good networking is about building real connections, not just showing off your work. Personally, I’ve formed numerous connections online, some of which have developed into genuine friendships that began during group exhibitions or collaborative projects. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nikolinapetolas.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikolinapetolas/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NikolinaPetolas/