Lea Embeli
Profile
Lea Embeli
1994 Born in Pančevo, Serbia.
2018 MFA, Department of Applied Painting, Faculty of Applied Arts, University of Belgrade
2021 Graduate School of Oil Painting, Tokyo University of the Arts
2023 Enrolled in a second Master’s program
Exhibition history
2017
“This changes everything”, Niš Art Foundation, Niš, Serbia
2018
“Festum, Student Cultural Center”, Belgrade, Serbia
2019
Solo Exhibition “Out of touch”, Ostavinska Gallery, Belgrade, Serbia
2020
“Private Values, Swiss Residence”, Belgrade, Serbia
“Autumn of Art Biennale”, Sombor, Serbia
Solo Exhibition “What do you think?”, X Vitamin Gallery, Belgrade, Serbia
2021
51st Art Salon, National Museum, Pančevo, Serbia
2023
“Wherever You Are, That’s Home”, JR Ueno Gallery, Tokyo
Future Exhibition, Nichido Gallery, Tokyo
Watowa Art Award, Watowa Gallery, Tokyo
2024
Shibuya Awards, Hillside Terrace Annex-A, Tokyo
“grid next”, biscuit gallery, Tokyo
Awards
2018
Aleksandar Tomašević Award
ULUPUDS Award in Applied Painting
2020
Vučićević Award
2024
Shibuya Awards, Yusaku Imamura Prize
Concept
My work is an exploration of the intricate relationship between the female body, artificial intelligence, and historical representation in art. Through the use of AI image-generating technology, I investigate how traditional depictions of women in classical paintings can be transformed and distorted beyond recognition, intentionally pushing the boundaries of recognition.
The resulting images are deliberately unsophisticated and unsettling, challenging conventional notions of beauty and identity. This method allows me to confront the contingent symbolism and inherent biases embedded in historical artistic representations of women, as well as in AI technology itself. Each distorted figure becomes a cipher, inviting viewers to question the norms and expectations associated with the female form from art history to the present day.
