About

In my works, which I see as my children, I try to approach the soul and the infinity of nature and make it visual.

I see nature and subjects from nature as symbols that help me understand the modalities and infinities of my daily life.

Most of my works have a Latin title. Latin is the basis of many languages, just as nature is the basis of our life. We are living surrounded by nature and living in nature, but this nature and these surroundings are unpredictable and surprising (ex improvisio) and endless (ad infinitum), similar to the way someone exists (modalitas).

I try to express my impressions of the world, but leave it to you to discover, in a little bit of colour in the shadow of my black and white mezzotint, your own picture of this world and this life.

I hope that you will be able to find your own never-ending existence, as an Alice in wonderland. That is the goal of my work.

Maja Ilic, October 2008

Biography

1950: Born in Sarajevo, Bosnia & Hercegovina
1968: Finished Gymnasium, Sarajevo
1976: Academy of Fine Arts in Sarajevo, graphic department under professor Academic, Dzevad Hozo
1980: Postgraduate study at Jan van Eijck Academy, Maastricht, the Netherlands

2002: Visiting lecturer in Graphic Art, “het Koorenhuis”, Den Haag
1994: Adviser in the “Haagse Artotheek” for collection of the works from the artists from former Jugoslavia now living in the Netherlands
1992–1998: Worked for the Inter Church Council, IKV, as art project manager for cultural exchange project between Bosnia & Hercegovina and the Netherlands
1984–1992: Curator of the city Gallery “Dom Mladih”, Sarajevo
: Assistant of costume designer, for the opening and closing ceremonies for the 14th Winter Olympic Games in Sarajevo
: Costume designer for numerous TV and theatre productions
: Illustrated children’s books and magazines
1978: Lecturer in graphic at Sarajevo Art School

2004: VOG, Association for original graphic art in the Netherlands
1999: IMS, The International Mezzotint Society
: ARTI/SHOCK, Rijswijk, the Netherlands
1997: INKT, The Hague Printmaking Association
1994: STROOM, Art Association, Den Haag, Nederland
1978: ULUBIH, Bosnia and Hercegovina’s Art Association

: Following the end of the Academy of Fine Arts in Sarajevo, actively exhibited in numerous group exhibitions in former Yugoslavia or independently.
: She is the recipient of several awards for her art work.
: At the time Maja was a guest in several art workshops where she also exhibited her works.

: Maja Ilic participated in many exhibitions in the Netherlands, including:
: “proofDRUK”, Haagse Kunstkring, Den Haag
: “onder de 100”, Galerie Kunstwan, Tilburg
2008: International mail — ART PROJECT — “MIJN WERELD”
: Sidac Studio, Leiden
: “15 jaar Vereniging Voor Originele Grafiek”, CODA museum, Apeldoorn
2007: International Graphic Manifestation, Museum Nagele
2006: Homage to Rembrandt, Sidac Studio, Leiden
: International Graphic Manifestation, Galerie Werfkade, Martenshoek, Hoogezand
: Indian Summer, Inkt, The Hague
2004: Gallery Haagse Kunstkring, Vrije Academie, The Hague
: Gallery Inkt — deep print, mixed technique, The Hague
2003: Koorenhuis, Veni Vidi Fifi, The Hague
2002: Mondial Centrum, Maastricht
: Brak Gallery, Voorburg
: Inkt, Gallery, The Hague
2001: Museum Rijswijk, Rijswijk
: Grote Kerk, South Holland Manifestation, The Hague
2000: Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat, The Hague
: Inkt, Gallery, Op Format, The Hague
: Mondial Centrum, Maastricht
1999: Grote Kerk, South Holland Graphic Manifestation, The Hague
: Museum Rijswijk, Rijswijk
: Inkt, Gallery, Op Format, The Hague
1998: City Hall, Woman’s Day, The Hague
: Haagse Salon, City Hall, The Hague
: Museum “De Gevangenpoort”, 750 years’ existence of The Hague, The Hague
: Inkt, Gallery, mixed media, The Hague
: Edison Gallery, The Hague
: Inkt, Gallery, Op Format, The Hague
: Tivolivo Gallery, The Hague
1995: City Hall, Haagse Salon, The Hague
1994: Cultureel Centrum, Den Bosch
: De Drie Hoekjes, The Hague
1993: Provinciehuis, The Hague
: Pax Christi, Utrecht
: Glerum auction house, The Hague
: Academy of Fine Arts, Tilburg
1980: Bonnefanten Museum, Maastricht
: Cultureel Centrum, Brunssum
: Jan van Eyck Academy, Maastricht
: Gallery, Puth Schinnen

2007: Embassy of Bosnia & Hercegovina, Den Haag
: Inkt, Gallery, The Hague
2000: Roeland Grafiek Galerie, The Hague
1998: Atelier De Eendvogel, Gallery, Gorinchem
1997: Drye Swaentjes, Gallery, Oisterwijk
1995: Hofboerderij, Wateringen
1989: Edison, Gallery, The Hague
1989: Cultureel Centrum, Zenica, Opuzen
1980: Kunstzalen Heerkens Thijssen, Haarlem
1979: Gallery for Young Artists, Ivanjica

2016: Art Gallery NPV, Baska Voda, Croatia
: Gallery ARAK, Omis, Croatia
: Gallery SUNCE, Brela, Croatia
2015: International Print Competition, Norwalk, USA
: Invitation, 8th Douro Biennale, Portugal
: Opening Garden Gallery, Den Haag
2014: BIMPE VIII, Vancouver, British Columbia
: The International Contemporary Miniprint of Kazanlak
: Mini Print Kazanlak, Bulgaria
: BIMP, miniprint biennale, Canada
: See Me, Times Square, New York, USA
: Second International Mezzotint Festival, Ekaterinburg, Russia
2012: The Etching Guild, Latvia
: BIMPE VII, 7th Biennial International Miniature Print, Vancouver, Canada
2011: Guanlan International Print Biennial, China
2010: Gallery of Modern Art, Ekaterinburg, Russia
2009: Friese mini-print biennale, De Galerij van De Lawei
: International Mezzotint Festival, Ekaterinburg Museum, Russia
: Natuur Fryslân Museum, Leeuwarden
: “Mezzotint: Out of Darkness”, International Mezzotint Festival, Regional Natural History Museum and the publishing house “Artifact”, Gallery of Modern Art, Ekaterinburg, Russia
: Museum of Fine Arts, Kurgan
: Tyumen Regional Museum of Fine Arts
2008: Pratt Fine Arts Gallery at Tashiro Kaplan, Seattle, Washington, USA
: TBA — Pacific Northwest College of Arts (PNCA), Portland, Oregon, USA
: Wright State University Art Galleries, Dayton, Ohio, USA
: Naestved International Exhibition of Contemporary Mini Square Prints, Naestved, Denmark
: Lore Degenstein Gallery, Selinsgrove, PA, USA
: Altgeld Gallery, DeKalb, Illinois, USA
: BIMPE V, The Fifth Biennial International Miniature Print, Vancouver, Canada
: International engraving exhibition El Caliu, Spain
2007: Print Zero Studio, Seattle, USA
: Global Matrix II, Ring Gallery, Steward Center Gallery, Purdue University Gallery, Indiana, USA
: Priebe Art Gallery, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, USA
: Higgins Art Gallery, Cape Cod Community College, West Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA
: Friese mini-print biennale, Grafisch Atelier Friesland, Leeuwarden
2006: Global Matrix II, an international print exhibition, Purdue University Galleries, IN, USA
2004: Expo TRACE, Galerie de l’Image, Épinal, France
: The Iowa Biennial exhibition, Iowa City, USA
2003: Biennale de TRACE, City Hall, Paris
2001: 21st Mini Print International of Cadaqués, Cadaqués, Spain
: Wingfield Arts & Music Festival, Wingfield, England
: Taller Galeria Fort, Girona, Spain
: Etang d’Art, France
1998: World Trade Centre, Brussels, Belgium
1987: International Women Presentation, New Delhi, India

2008: Lonsford Collection at Purdue University
2006: Maja’s print was on the cover of The Netherlands Journal of Medicine
2002: Her work was selected and published in the book “The World Art Collection”
1992: Maja’s print was chosen as the annual peace prize, Tilburg, 1992
1983: First prize for graphic art, Pristina
1976: First prize for young artists of Yugoslavia, Ivanjica