Hi Petra Štefanková, what`s your routine at the moment?

Well, it depends on what projects I am currently working on – I have finished illustrating two children’s books for Vienna-based author Hannah Lena Rebel and I constantly provide my images to other publications such as Professor Alan’s Male Illustration: A Theoretical and Contextual Perspective, which has been published by Bloomsbury Publishing in the United Kingdom in January 2024.

There are many more books similar to this one, so to this date, I have almost 200 different publications with my works published worldwide – these are not only books but magazines, newspapers and catalogues too. I search for exhibition opportunities or they find me and I get offers from the gallerists. I am planning a group exhibition in Budapest this summer, so I am also working on communication, contracts and logistics. Weekly I am also in touch with my art dealer in New York who takes care of the sales of my paintings. And when the inspiration comes, I spend my time in my art studio and focus on traditional acrylic painting. I switch between the techniques from digital to acrylic all the time.

What`s now particularly important for all of us?

We probably need more tolerance of different opinions, views, identities and human differences. I think that freedom of expression, equality and literacy are also important factors for meaningful lives.

New start, new beginning. What will be essential and which roles will art play on society?

Art in general brings communication of important and interesting ideas, that the society currently resolves, in a manner that can be understood internationally without language barriers. The language of art can be simple and aimed at children or sophisticated for those of us, who prefer complex philosophy or thinking behind the works of art. Art also helps to connect people and cultures in artistic events.

What are you reading currently?

I am currently reading A Year in the Art World by the curator and art historian Matthew Israel a close insight on the work of artists, curators and gallerists from Los Angeles and New York, to Paris and Hong Kong. I bought the book during my past year’s stay in London in a bookstore at Charing Cross. For entertainment, I am also reading humorous books by David Walliams in the English language.

Which quote, text will you propose to us?

I can quote a poem written by my mother Aurélia Štefanková in our collaborative book of paintings and poetry called ‚Don’t Take My Dreams From Me‘ published in Slovak and English language in 2020.

‚Don’t speak of freedom

when logs lie all along the road.

Only a soul free from bonds

can create.‘

The book is available to international readers at the library of the Royal Society of Arts in London.

Thank you very much for the interview, dear Petra, all the best for your art and personally in these days!

Vielen Dank für das Interview, liebe Petra, viel Freude und Erfolg weiterhin für Deine großartigen Kunstprojekte und persönlich in diesen Tagen alles Gute! 

5 questions on artists

5 Fragen an Künstler*innen:

Petra Štefanková, visual artist, illustrator and designer

Zur Person _ Petra Štefanková, visual artist, illustrator and designer

Biography: Slovak artist Petra Štefanková studied graphic design and film and TV graphics in Bratislava, Prague and London. She has worked on global advertising, editorial, animation, publishing and fine arts projects. She collaborated with VooDooDog Animation in London on the animated title sequence for the Hollywood film Nanny McPhee 2. She is an author, designer and illustrator of books Moje malé more, Don’t Take My Dreams From Me, Čmáranica a Machuľa. Petra Štefanková is a winner of many awards, such as Channel4’s 4Talent Award 2007, Minister of Culture of the Slovak Republic Award 2019, American Illustration 42 Winner in New York and she is a Life Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in London. She is currently based in Bratislava, Slovakia.

Aktuelles Buchprojekt mit Hannah Lena Rebel, Autorin, Komponistin, Choreographin_ Wien.

Buchpräsentation in Wien:

Fotos_ privat

Walter Pobaschnig _ 24.2.2024

https://literaturoutdoors.com