DEANA’S extraordinary photographs ooze sensuality, poetically exploring the feminine mystique through play with light and shadow. Though she has described some of the arrestingly beautiful imagery she creates as mere “happy accidents” there’s something about this artist’s magical sense of timing that has enabled her to produce wondrous, painterly effects that are both highly original and uniquely haunting. it’s as though she hones in on the aura of her subject, and manages to expose it for all to see.
Deana Nastic is an internationally established photographer. (b. 1964 in Belgrade, Serbia) based in Toronto, Canada. After Deana’s successful career in fine art, Deana replaced her paintbrush with a camera. Falling in love with a new “painting tool”, she began experimenting. She saw this as an extension of her work in watercolours, enraptured by the f luidity she was able to express in this new medium. After working for years, styling various photographic techniques and developing her new signature approach and style. Deana presented a solo exhibition of her work, entitled “Invisible Brush” in 2016 at the Izzy Gallery, in Toronto, Canada. The following year, she participated in ProjectX-Posed, a collaborative effort dubbed The Disruptor Series, which was presented to commemorate the Canadian arts and Fashion Awards (CAFA) fifth anniversary. Since then Deana exhibited in USA, EU, and Canada.
“Nonverbal Synchrony”
These images challenge the boundaries of the traditional photographic medium. They spill into the realm of digital painting and it is a non-linear process. Deana’s vision takes me on a voyage in a universe of mystery through the feminine harmonies of dynamic silhouettes.
Roxanne Lowit
Artist Statement:
Art is the air that I breathe. I grew up in an artistic family, surrounded by the work my father collected, going to museums, and gleaning inspiration from the figurative style of masters like Modigliani and Giacometti. But the way people emotionally connect with art is what really moves me: I was reduced to tears the first time I saw Van Gogh’s self-portrait in Paris. It was one of those “Aha!” moments for me—when I knew I wanted to be an artist myself. Experimenting with different media and a variety of techniques throughout my education was a true luxury. I pushed my own perimeters and exposed myself to as much as possible. Now, looking back at my evolution, there’s a great feeling of satisfaction because of my eclectic journey. I’m happy that I was always able to trust the process of experimentation and simply go with the flow. In recent years, my passion, dogged determination, and relentless hard work have resulted in my own signature style. I credit the lure of photography for seducing my spirit of spontaneity and allowing it to really shine. Playing with the untold possibilities of that brilliant medium has taken my work to a whole other level. And now, it feels like I’ve only just begun. I find the potential exhilarating. I hope the sense of bold drama and sensuality inherent in my work continues to connect with people on deeply personal levels. Art is ultimately about expression and communication: Scaling the landscape of the human condition and capturing our many moods are proving to be my most precious and rewarding pastime.
