Description
‘A Place Once Known’ by Nikolina Petolas
Artist: Nikolina Petolas
Title: ‘A Place Once Known’
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 16.7″ x 15.7″
Framing: Unframed
Year of Creation: 2025
Artwork Will Ship From: Croatia
About the Artwork:
“I used to come here,” she whispered.
“Or maybe I only dreamed I did.”
The fence seemed further than it once was.
Flamingos watched silently, keepers of what time lets pass.
“Did you want to stay?”
“More than I could say.”
The garden felt distant,
like a place she once knew,
or only hoped to.
✦ Blue Pear Saga ~ Chronicle 43 ✦
About the Artist:
(Artist Bio)
In the world of Croatian artist Nikolina Petolas, animals, hybrid creatures, and human figures move through spaces that feel like a journey through time. Drawing inspiration from nature, historical grandeur, and a futuristic lens, she transforms overgrown interiors and surreal gardens into places of wonder and nostalgia. Her outcast characters, adrift in their own worlds, reflect our search for meaning in an age of isolation. With influences from classical traditions and surrealism, Nikolina uses both traditional oil painting and digital techniques to create allegorical narratives about nature, society, and our uncertain future.
Recognized for her distinctive style, Nikolina has collaborated with renowned clients such as Ferragamo and Marriott. Her signature Blue Pear series, developed over the past 12 years, has earned global recognition and prestigious awards including the IPA Awards, Beautiful Bizarre, LICC, and notably, the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.
Nikolina’s art has been showcased through solo and group exhibitions across Europe, the US, and Asia. Her work has been featured in museums, galleries, and cultural landmarks such as Mafra Palace, and has been part of immersive digital art and technology events.