Jelena Martinović
Jelena Martinović’s artistic expression is deeply intertwined with the rhythms of nature and her personal inner growth. She finds inspiration in forests, mountains, rivers, and lakes—natural landscapes through which she explores the boundaries of body and spirit, as well as the profound influence of nature on human perception and emotion. Through her work, she contemplates the possibilities of understanding ourselves by observing art or immersing ourselves in the natural world.
For Jelena, art is a journey towards harmony—those fleeting moments when the boundaries between humans and nature seem to dissolve. Her creative process is driven by a pursuit of freedom and spontaneity, continuously evolving through the fusion of different techniques and the creation of visual compositions that echo the fluidity of her inner experience. She translates her deep sense of connection with the world through constant experimentation with diverse media and approaches, perpetually seeking balance between humanity and its surroundings.
Short bio
Jelena Martinović (b. 1981) is a visual artist with an MA in painting from the Academy of Fine Arts, University of Zagreb (2006), where she studied under Professor Ante Rašić.
She has exhibited widely and participated in art symposiums and workshops in Croatia and abroad, including Cappadocia, Moscow, and Graz. She has also worked as an assistant and artistic director on numerous projects, collaborating with renowned Croatian and international artists.
Her work explores nature, transformation, and personal growth, drawing inspiration from forests, mountains, rivers, and lakes. She experiments with various artistic techniques, often combining them to create dynamic compositions that reflect her inner experience and deep connection to the environment.
She is a member of the Croatian Association of Visual Artists in Varaždin (HDLU Varaždin), the Croatian Association of Artists in Zagreb (HDLU Zagreb), and the Croatian Association of Visual Artists and Art Critics (HULULK).
Jelena lives and works in Zagreb, pursuing harmony between humans and nature through her art.
Discover the art
Artist Year 2024
Medium acrylic on canvas
Size 120 cm (h) x 100 cm (w)
Framed No
€ 2.200,00
Artist Year 2024
Medium mixed media on paper
Size 110 cm (h) x 150 cm (w)
Framed No
€ 1.800,00
Artist Year 2024
Medium acrylic on canvas
Size 50 cm (h) x 150 cm (w) (total dimensions of the three pantings combined in a triptych)
Framed No
€ 1.500,00
Jelena Martinović is a visual artist born in 1981 in Varaždin. She graduated in painting from the Academy of Fine Arts at the University of Zagreb in 2006, in the class of Professor Ante Rašić.
Throughout her artistic career, she has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions and actively engaged in art symposiums and workshops in Croatia and abroad. Among her most significant international experiences are the art symposium in Cappadocia, Turkey (2010), a lecture and exhibition at the Moscow Academy of Arts on the occasion of the Moscow Olympics (2013), and an artist residency at the “As Tide” workshop within the “Heimat” project in Graz, organized in collaboration with Next Graz and the Pistoletto Foundation in Biella. She also held a lecture titled “Art, Nature, and Sport” at the Moscow Lyceum during the international symposium of the Moscow Academy of Arts and Academy of Sciences (2009 and 2014).
Jelena worked as an assistant and artistic director on numerous art projects, collaborating with renowned Croatian and international artists and students.
Her artistic creativity is deeply connected to nature and its transformations, as well as personal inner growth. Jelena draws inspiration from time spent in nature—forests, mountains, rivers, and lakes—exploring the boundaries of body and spirit, and reflecting on the impact of nature and art on human perception and emotions.
Jelena’s artistic focus lies in the pursuit of freedom, ease, and playful expression. She frequently switched between different artistic techniques and combines them, creating dynamic visual compositions that reflect her inner experience and connection with the environment.
In 2007, she participated in the first Croatian women’s Himalayan alpine expedition to the summit of Cho Oyu (8,201 m), which significantly influenced her artistic journey, deepening her fascination with nature and human endurance.
She is a member of the Croatian Association of Visual Artists in Varaždin (HDLU Varaždin), the Croatian Association of Artists in Zagreb (HDLU Zagreb), and the Croatian Association of Visual Artists and Art Critics (HULULK).
Jelena lives and works in Zagreb, basing her artistic and life philosophy on a constant search for harmony between humans and nature.
2024 – “Zimska priča”, exhibition of artists Irena Gayatri Horvat, Jelena Martinović and Gabrijela Šimić, gallery space of the Open University of Ivanić-Grad, Ivanić-Grad
2024 – “Svjetlucanje šume”, in collaboration with artist Irena Gayatri Horvat, Gallery Kurija, Prigorje Museum, Zagreb
2024 – “Beskrajni horizonti”, exhibition space of the Library “Kajfešov brijeg”, Zagreb
2023 – “Beskrajni horizonti – umjetničko istraživanje prirode”, French Institute, Zagreb
2023 – “Oči pune neba”, exhibition celebrating the 15th anniversary of the First Croatian Women’s Mountaineering Expedition to Cho Oyu, in collaboration with Irena Gayatri Horvat, Gallery Kupola, Zagreb
2023 – “Refleksije šume”, in collaboration with Irena Gayatri Horvat, Special Police Force Gallery, Zagreb
2023 – “Stabla”, Gallery Usput, Youth Center Ribnjak, Zagreb
2023 – “Moje boje Himalaje”, exhibition space of the Library “Vladimir Nazor”, Zagreb
2023 – “O zelenom”, Gallery Oblok, Zagreb
2022 – “Crtice s Himalaje”, exhibition celebrating the 15th anniversary of the First Croatian Women’s Mountaineering Expedition to Cho Oyu, Brela
2020 – “Masline i ljudi”, Gallery Kontrast, Zagreb
2025 – “Hommage Ivani–vidljivi i nevidljivi svijet IBM”, exhibition curated by Sanda Stanačev Bajzek, Heritage Museum of Ogulin, Ivana’s House of Fairy Tales, Ogulin
2024 – Christmas exhibition “Lux aeterna”, exhibition space of the Pastoral Center of the Parish of St. Leopold Bogdan Mandić, Zagreb
2024 – International exhibition of miniatures “4. džepno izdanje”, exhibition space of the Public Library “Grad”, Dubrovnik
2024 – BIEAF 2024, Busan International Environmental Art Festival on the topic “Old Future”, Busan, Korea
2024 – “Natura”, inclusive art gallery Art&CeRZe, Zagreb
2024 – Group exhibition of Ex Tempore Mandrač 2024 winners, “Juraj Šporer” Art Pavilion, Opatija
2024 – International group exhibition of women artists “Toranj žena”, St. Martin’s Tower, Buje) (Award for Best Visual Work)
2024 – “Ljetni odrazi II”, Special Police Force Gallery, Zagreb
2024 – “KUNSTZONE”, annual exhibition of HDLU Varaždin (The Croatian Association of Visual Artists in Varaždin) members, Gallery Kula–Stražarnica, Varaždin
2024 – “One su tu”, Cultural Center Osijek, Osijek
2024 – “8. zagrebački ljetni likovni salon 2024 – Sanjam bolji svijet”, Gallery Kontrast – Cultural Center Dubrava, Zagreb
2024 – “19. INTERBIFP”, International Biennial Portrait Festival, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
2024 – “Autentičnost leži u oku promatrača”, curated project by HDLU Istra, gallery of HDLU Istra (Croatian Association of Fine Artists of Istria), Pula
2024 – “One su tu”, City Museum Vinkovci, Vinkovci
2024 – Curated project by HDLU Istra “VODA / WATER / ACQUA”, gallery of HDLU Istra, Pula
2024 – HULULK 10th exhibition, anniversary show celebrating 10 years of HULULK (Croatian Association of Fine Artists and Art Critics) activity, Gallery Art&CeRZe, Zagreb
2024 – International exhibition “Natura”, Golden Duck Gallery, Budapest, Hungary
2024 – “Cvjetnica 2024”, exhibition of HULULK members, HULULK exhibition space – Gallery Farof, Parish courtyard Vugrovec, Sesvete
2024 – “Tragom geste”, curated project by HDLU Istra, gallery of HDLU Istra, Pula
2024 – “Ex tempore”, Gallery Magistrat and Mala Gallery of the Ptuj City Gallery, Ptuj, Slovenia
2024 – “Izložba novoprimljenih članova HDLU-a”, Gallery Tower–Stražarnica, Varaždin
2023 – “Maranatha”, Christmas exhibition of HULULK members, exhibition space of the Association of Green and Blue Sesvete, Sesvete
2023 – International exhibition of miniatures “3. džepno izdanje”, exhibition space of the Public Library “Grad”, Dubrovnik
2023 – 2nd Zagreb Black Friday Art Walk, Special Police Force Gallery, Zagreb
2023 – Art Colony Dubrava 2023, as part of the Artupunktura project, Cultural Center Dubrava, Zagreb
2023 – Art Zagreb, Zagreb Fair, Zagreb
2023 – 3rd International Biennial of Artistic Visions of Etike(te) – “LAŽ / LIE 2023”, Novo Mesto, Slovenia
2023 – “Twist out Cancer”, humanitarian group exhibition, Brushes with Cancer project, Midwest Brushes with Cancer, Zhou B Art Center, Chicago, IL, USA
2023 – Drawing Biennale Pula, Gallery DAI-SAI, Pula Town Gallery and gallery of HDLU Istra, Pula
2023 – “7. Zagrebački ljetni likovni salon 2023 – Sloboda”, Gallery Kontrast, Zagreb
2023 – 6th Boutique Art Fair “Nesvrstani”, Lauba, Zagreb
2023 – “Crveno”, part of the HDLU Istra project, curated by Eugen Borkovsky, gallery of HDLU Istra, Pula
2023 – “Žuto”, part of the HDLU Istra project, curated by Eugen Borkovsky, gallery of HDLU Istra, Pula
2023 – “Kult ružnoće”, part of the project “Kult ružnoće” curated by Andrej Zbašnik, gallery of HDLU Istra, Pula
2023 – “Misterij križa”, exhibition space/crypt of the Franciscan Parish Church of Our Lady of the Angels, Zagreb
2023 – “Rekvijem za ljepotu”, curatorial project by Milan Marin, gallery of HDLU Istra, Pula
2023 – “One su tu”, City Museum Vinkovci, Vinkovci
2022 – “Božić – drugo ime obitelji”, group exhibition of HULULK members, exhibition space of the Association of Green and Blue Sesvete, Zagreb
2022 – First Zagreb Black Friday Art Walk, Special Police Force Gallery, Zagreb
2022 – “18. INTERBIFP”, International Biennial Portrait Festival, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
2022 – Post-plein air exhibition of the XXIII International Painting Symposium “Colors of Małopolski”, Miechów, Poland
2022 – 5th Boutique Art Fair “Nesvrstani”, Lauba, Zagreb
2022 – 6th Zagreb Summer Art Salon 2022: “Hrvatska književnost u djelima likovnih umjetnika”, Gallery Kontrast – Cultural Center Dubrava, Zagreb
2022 – “4. zagrebački festival crteža”, Gallery InArt, MO Trnsko, Zagreb
2022 – “Woman in Phases”, Port Art Women, online exhibition
Collection of the Rehabilitation Center in Zagreb
Collection of the Jedra Association, Zagreb
Collection of the University of Zadar
“Mother” Collection of the Franciscan Monastery, Humac, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Collection of the Academy of Fine Arts in Moscow
Collection of the Parish Court in Vugrovec, Sesvete
2024 – Best Artwork Award at the International Exhibition “Tower of Women,” organized by the Italian-English art organization Port Art Women and the Public Open University Buje
2024 – 3rd Prize at the International Art Competition Mandrač 2024
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