> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.catapult-platform.art/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Gabriela Genčúrová in Conversation: On Instinct, Symbolism, and the Quiet Power of the Surreal - URL: https://www.catapult-platform.art/gabriela-gencurova-in-conversation-on-instinct-symbolism-and-the-quiet-power-of-the-surreal/ - Published: 2025-05-27T11:25:22.000Z - Updated: 2025-11-19T08:54:32.000Z - Description: Gabriela Genčúrová is a visual artist based in Slovakia whose work inhabits the dreamlike space between surrealism and the emotional sensibilities of the digital age. Her creations evoke scenes that feel pulled from a dream: playful at first glance, yet subtly unsettling and deeply human. - Author: Di Franco - Tags: Featured ## An intimate talk with DiFranco on turning fleeting feelings into timeless forms Driven by instinct and spontaneity, [**Gabriela Genčúrová**](https://www.instagram.com/bikacriesinart?ref=catapult-platform.art) acts on ideas the moment they arrive — before they vanish. Her visual language is visceral, symbolic, and always open to interpretation, making her art a quiet mirror for the emotions many carry but few can name. ![new female arists](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/2025/05/F238891A-1468-416B-961E-4721A7EDF224.jpeg) ****Gabriela Genčúrová:** ***5-Minute Crafts** **Permission and courtesy of the artist.* ![gabriela genčúrová , contemporary artist](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/2025/05/F18D44BB-BA1C-4D09-B905-2C96E67E12FE.jpeg) ****Gabriela Genčúrová:** ***Morning Bleach Smoothie to Function** **Permission and courtesy of the artist.* **Her work delves into themes such as the inner child, transformation, nostalgia, identity, unfulfillment, self-sabotage, and quiet spirituality.** Strange animal figures and distorted characters become vessels of raw emotion — unreal beings that seem to speak uncomfortable truths with just a gaze. Throughout her practice, Gabriela has explored various media — from drawing and sculpture to animation — but currently focuses on airbrush painting, a technique that allows for an almost ethereal softness. ![new contemporary art from Slovakia now](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/2025/05/gabriela-gencurova.jpg) ****Gabriela Genčúrová:** ***Bouncy Cashtle** **Permission and courtesy of the artist.* Rather than offering answers or linear narratives, her pieces invite introspection: portals into personal stories and shared generational experiences, suspended in time and open to those willing to truly look. ## **Gabriela Genčúrová in conversation with DiFranco:** **1\. Can you describe your artistic journey and how you discovered your unique visual style?** My artistic journey started before I can even remember. As a child, I was always drawing, sewing, embroidering, crocheting, sculpting—constantly exploring different techniques through books and tutorials. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/2025/05/IMG_4829.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/2025/05/IMG_5292.jpeg) ****In the studio with Gabriela Genčúrová** **Permission and courtesy of the artist.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/2025/05/3d-arwork-spraypaint.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/2025/05/works-on-paper.jpg) ****Gabriela Genčúrová:** ***Paper Puffer Fish** **Permission and courtesy of the artist* ![slovacia art scene ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/2025/05/gabriela-gencurova--artwork.jpg) ****Gabriela Genčúrová:** ***I Have Been There** **Permission and courtesy of the artist.* Around the age of 13, I began painting with acrylics, and later transitioned into using airbrush. I’ve always gravitated toward surrealism, as dreamlike worlds feel very close to me emotionally. With the change in medium came a shift in how I thought about my work, and over time, through constant creating, ![spraypaint , contemporary art](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/2025/05/emerging-artist.jpg) ****Gabriela Genčúrová:** ***Blessed Phone** 50 × 60 cm, airbrushed acrylic on canvas **Permission and courtesy of the artist.* I naturally arrived at my current visual language. I value freedom—both in life and in my art—and I try to keep that sense of openness present in everything I create. **2\. What role does the airbrush play in your creative process, and how did you begin working with it?** I first encountered airbrush painting at a friend’s exhibition a 3 years ago. The paintings looked so smooth and visually delicious—I almost wanted to eat them. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/2025/05/munchies-art-club-.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/2025/05/catapult-artist-now.jpg) ****Gabriela Genčúrová: (left)** ***Embryo Portal** **| (right)** ***Freedom** **Permission and courtesy of the artist.* At that time, I believed airbrushing was too complex, and it felt scary to leave the comfort zone of traditional painting. But about a year later, I bought the full setup. I cried over broken airbrushes and many failed attempts, but looking back, I’m glad I didn’t give up. > **Now**, ***airbrushing feels much more intuitive and natural to me, and I love working with it***. What I love about airbrush is the range of approaches—you can go freehand, mask off areas, or build up soft transitions. **3\. How do you choose the color palettes for your paintings? Do they reflect emotions, themes, or intuition?** It’s a mix of all of those things. I usually have a plan based on the mood or atmosphere I want to achieve. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/2025/05/new-spraypaint-artist.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/2025/05/best-of-spraypaint-art.jpg) ****Gabriela Genčúrová: (left)** ***človek si a na kameň sa obrátiš 🗿** **| (right)** ***let me be your little sun** **Permission and courtesy of the artist.* But the process of mixing colors for an airbrush is a bit different than working with a traditional palette—it’s liquid, so when it dries, it can shift in tone. I also try not to waste paint, so if I mix too much of one color, I’ll adapt during the process. So even if it starts off planned, there’s always an element of improvisation. ![new spray paint artists](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/2025/05/IMG_3795.jpeg) ****Gabriela Genčúrová** from her Studio | **Permission and courtesy of the Artist* **4\. What does the fusion of traditional painting with digital tools mean to you as an artist?** For me, combining traditional painting with digital tools is a way to experiment and quickly visualize ideas. I like to create digital sketches or collages using references, which allows me to play with composition and details without being limited by materials. ![new faces in contemporary art](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/2025/05/new-faces-in-contemporary-art.jpg) ****Gabriela Genčúrová** Once I’m happy with the idea, I translate it into traditional painting, where I can work in a way that feels natural and intuitive to me. **5\. Can you tell us about your collaboration with the “Summer Artist Series: Bika Collection” and how it felt to see your art on clothing?** This collaboration was really important to me at that time — it felt like a big moment, especially as a young artist. ![new faces in contemporary art](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/2025/05/IMG_1042.jpeg) ****Gabriela Genčúrová:** ***Me After a Long Day of Nothing** **Permission and courtesy of the artist.* I didn’t know how my art would translate onto clothing, but I trusted the brand’s creative vision. In the end, it honestly exceeded my expectations. Seeing my work on such stylish pieces — and on people — was a surreal, exciting experience and kind of a dream come true. **6\. How do fashion and visual art intersect in your work? Do you see yourself moving more into wearable art?** I’ve always felt a connection to fashion. From the moment I started painting, I also began painting on clothing — mostly for myself or friends. ![contemporary painting](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/2025/05/IMG_5213.jpeg) ****In the studio with Gabriela Genčúrová - Art Practice** **Permission and courtesy of the artist.* Even now, I sometimes spray designs on pieces, but I don’t often share that side publicly. I wouldn’t say wearable art is my main direction, but I’m open to collaborations if someone has a strong vision that could work with my visual language. **7\. What challenges or freedoms does working with mixed media (acrylic, airbrush, digital) bring to your practice?** I try to build my process in a way that gives me more freedom than restriction. Of course, mixing different media can be technically tricky — like how airbrush and acrylic behave differently on canvas, or how a digital sketch might not fully match the feeling once it’s transferred into paint. ![gabriela gencurova](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/2025/05/best-art-now.jpg) ****Gabriela Genčúrová:** ***Self-Portrait. Unfulfillment** **Permission and courtesy of the artist* But I like that. That tension creates room for creativity. It keeps the process unpredictable, which I find exciting and full of potential. **8\. Do you follow a specific process when starting a new piece, or is it more spontaneous?** I’d say my process is structured in the beginning and spontaneous in the execution. It usually starts with a feeling, a theme, or just a visual idea. ![munchies art club](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/2025/05/contempoary-artist-feature.jpg) ****Gabriela Genčúrová:** ***🍌🦍** **Permission and courtesy of the artist.* I gather references, make digital sketches — and then once I start painting, I let go of control. I paint intuitively, without a fixed order. Sometimes I begin with the background, sometimes with the subject, sometimes with tones or colors. And sometimes the “ugly phase” of the painting is really ugly — other times it clicks from the start. It’s always different. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/2025/05/IMG_6158.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/2025/05/33811fac-0c31-4b64-a29a-4cbe146bd853.jpeg) ****In the studio with Gabriela Genčúrová** **Permission and courtesy of the artist.* **9\. How do you view your work in the larger context of the art world? Do you feel your style resonates with contemporary trends or sets you apart?** I think airbrush has definitely become more popular in recent years, even though it’s been around for a while. ![gabriela gencurova](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/2025/05/IMG_5129.jpeg) ****Gabriela Genčúrová:** ***This Cursed Mannequin Makes Me So Uncomfy I Wanna Throw Up** **Permission and courtesy of the artist.* So maybe that helps my work resonate with current trends — but I still try to keep my own voice and direction. It’s hard to say objectively whether my work fits in or stands out. I just focus on making things that feel honest and true to where I’m at. **10\. In what ways do you think your environment in Slovakia influences your art, both creatively and conceptually?** Whether we realize it or not, the environment we grow up in shapes us — both consciously and unconsciously. ![gabriela gencurova, artwork](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/2025/05/IMG_6072.jpeg) ****Gabriela Genčúrová:** ***That One Random Plastic Bag (Your Grandma Packed Your Lunch In)** **Permission and courtesy of the artist.* I’m sure living in Slovakia has influenced the way I see and create, but I don’t think I’ve deeply analyzed exactly how. It’s something that probably reveals itself in more subtle ways over time. **11\. What do you hope your art communicates to others, and how do you want it to be perceived?** I want my art to be like a buffet — people can take what they need from it. I don’t want it to be too literal, even though sometimes it might be (I don’t always know myself). ![gabriela gencurova, artist ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/2025/05/1-1.jpg) ****Artist Spotlight & Interview with Gabriela Genčúrová and DiFranco** **Permission and courtesy of the artist.* I hope it opens up themes or feelings, that people feel seen or understood through it — or even just enjoy a moment of escape. Thanks to [**DiFranco**](https://www.catapult-platform.art/author/difranco/) and **Gabriela Genčúrová** for the Interview --- **Follow** [**Gabriela Genčúrová**](https://www.instagram.com/bikacriesinart?ref=catapult-platform.art) **on Instagram to lose your grip on reality and love it.** *See more surreal tenderness from a voice that speaks in symbols.* --- ## Related Reads: [Maria Luz: Contemporary painting and film photography of everyday objects in LisbonMaria Luz paints and photographs everyday urban objects with clear light and exact color, turning overlooked scenes into calm, durable images.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/icon/munchies-art-club-magazine-454.png)Catapult - The New Munchies Art Club | Critical CuratorsDominique Catherina Foertig![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1c/24/1c2478ff-417d-4e88-8226-288af467f6b9/content/images/thumbnail/Maria-Luz_studio-portrait-by-Meeshy-Martin-3-copy-3.webp)](https://www.catapult-platform.art/maria-luz-contemporary-painting-and-film-photography-of-everyday-objects-in-lisbon/) Maria Luz: Artist Spotlight [Diego Bianchi: Errores Irreales Opens Today in Graz – Friday Dispatch | Munchies Art ClubBodies that glitch. 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