Audra ART
About Audra Art
AudronÄ— BrazauskaitÄ— is an accomplished artist and pioneer in the field of art therapy in Lithuania. With a diverse background that spans painting, stage design, and social sciences, her work is a blend of artistic exploration and self-discovery.
​
Educational Background & Professional Expertise​​​
​
AudronÄ—'s journey into the world of art began in her childhood at the Vilnius Art school, later - at formal education at the Vilnius Arts Academy, where she graduated in 1989, specializing in painting and stage design. Her passion for understanding the deeper implications of art led her to further pursue a Doctorate in Social Sciences at Vilnius Pedagogical University, with a focus on educology, applying Art therapy for special needs children, in 2001.
A trailblazer in the field of art therapy, AudronÄ— has been instrumental in establishing the profession in Lithuania. She is a founding member of the Lithuanian Art Therapy Association, established in 1997, and a full member of the European Art Therapy Federation (EFAT). Her contributions to the development of art therapy in Lithuania include working with a team to create the first joint second-level program in ‘Art Therapy’ at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU) in collaboration with Vilnius Academy of Arts (VDA).
AudronÄ— continues to influence the field as a lecturer in the Arts Therapy master’s program at Vilnius University’s Medical Faculty, where she guides the next generation of art therapists. She is also the founder and director of the Public Enterprise Arts Therapy Centre (Menų terapijos centras), where she applies her extensive knowledge in both art and therapy.
Artistic Practice and Philosophy
In her artistic practice, AudronÄ— explores the intricate relationship between personal experiences and universal symbols. Her work delves into the meanings of braids, weaving, and knots—motifs that symbolize connections, both maintained and severed. The genesis of this theme in her work began after experiencing the loss of significant connections, leading her to subconsciously depict broken knots. This act became a ritual of severance, capturing the inherent sadness and complexity of connections that are made and lost.
As her work evolved, the imagery of weaving and knot-making became central, representing the search for and preservation of relationships. For AudronÄ—, a knot symbolizes not only binding and protection but also secrecy and the discovery of inner connections—a concept resonant with the Buddhist notion of "inner knots," where unraveling them is a path to self-knowledge and growth. The process of weaving for Audrone is the philosophy of world perception - everything is connected.
Influence of Art Therapy Paradigms
AudronÄ—’s creative process is deeply influenced by her profession as an art therapy. She approaches painting with a sense of spontaneity and presence, embracing the importance of the "here and now" in her work. Her paintings often begin with an abstract idea or a recent experience, evolving through free-flowing paint and spontaneous movements. The forms that emerge are not predetermined; instead, they are discovered through an intuitive dialogue with the artwork itself. This process allows her to tap into her subconscious, creating pieces that are not just visual but also deeply psychological explorations.
Her work has been exhibited internationally, including a solo exhibition at the Lithuanian Embassy in Delhi in 2023, ONKAF in 2024 further establishing her as a significant figure in both the art and art therapy worlds.
AudronÄ— BrazauskaitÄ—'s art testifies to the healing power of creativity, combining artistic expression with self-exploration, creating works that resonate on both a personal and universal level.