Artist Biography
Danica Ružić, a contemporary artist based in Berlin, captivates audiences with her vibrant and whimsical works that blend joy, imagination, and self-reflection. Born in Zagreb, Croatia, Danica’s art journey has been deeply shaped by her personal experiences, including frequent relocations during her childhood due to the instability in 1990s Croatia. These constant moves challenged her sense of belonging, but art and family remained the consistent threads in her life.
With a background in psychology, Danica’s work is influenced by her fascination with the human mind and the healing power of creativity. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she turned to urban sketching to connect with the world outside, which fueled her exploration of art as a therapeutic practice. Her abstract paintings, filled with bright colors, magical creatures, and a childlike sense of wonder, are a celebration of her reclaimed identity and her journey toward self-acceptance.
Danica’s art reflects her ongoing process of reconnecting with the parts of herself that she once hid to fit in. Through her paintings, she celebrates the imagination and curiosity of her inner child, creating works that encourage viewers to embrace self-discovery and joy. Her mission is to inspire others by demonstrating how art can serve as a powerful tool for healing, self-expression, and personal growth.
Her work blurs the line between reality and fantasy, inviting audiences to explore their own inner worlds and the concept of self. By embracing vulnerability and authenticity, Danica hopes to show that creativity can be a path toward living our truth and celebrating individuality in a rapidly changing world. She looks forward to sharing her unique vision within the contemporary art scene in Berlin and beyond.
Exhibitions:
- “Layers of Self”, August 2023, Galerie ErsterErster, Berlin
- “Exploring Color”, April 2024, Volkssolidarität Nachbarschaftszentrum Brunnentreff Berlin
- “Portraits”, April 2024, Volkssolidarität Nachbarschaftszentrum Brunnentreff Berlin
- “Balancing the Scales. Fairness in the Palette of Art”, September, 2024, Kunstfabrik HB55
- Featured on E-Merging Artists virtual gallery: https://www.e-mergingartists.art/artist/danica-ruzic/
"Painting is self-discovery. Every good artist paints what they are."
- Jackson Pollock
My art journey
During the 2020 pandemic, doodling became a meditative experience and a tool to maintain my mental health.
Around this time I decided to start my Instagram account: Danci Doodles
Since travel was not an option, I continued exploring the world while remaining inside: through urban sketching. The mix of structure (sketching) and flow (watercolor) helped me manage my stress and anxiety.
Through weekly sketching challenges I connected with a wider community of artists with whom I could share my experiences and ideas.
Early in 2022 I took part in the 100 Day Challenge: painting every day for a hundred days.
I focused on exploring new abstract techniques and only using a few colors.
With a limited color palette, it was easier to discover new ways of using tools and create different effects, textures, and of course — layers.
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