About
Surrounded by nature, during times of solitude, when busy life quietens down and time stands still, I feel connected… I am home.
I look into the birds’ eyes and see souls; I look at the plants and see their personalities. It is no longer about “human-me” and nature. The line between us disappears, and we blend into “Us.” Here, everybody and everything has its place and purpose, and our nature is celebrated.
"Darina Denali"
I look into the birds’ eyes and see souls; I look at the plants and see their personalities. It is no longer about “human-me” and nature. The line between us disappears, and we blend into “Us.” Here, everybody and everything has its place and purpose, and our nature is celebrated.
"Darina Denali"
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I was born and raised in the Czech Republic and have been living permanently in New Zealand since 2010. From a young age, I dreamed of the ocean and often told my family that one day I would live by the sea, swim among ocean creatures, and become a painter. They laughed because we lived in a landlocked country under a communist regime, but I felt a strong calling. I just knew the sea was where I was meant to be. I spent my childhood either searching for bugs and bringing home hedgehogs or with pencil and paper in hand, always drawing. I have often felt different among others, and art became my way to express my vivid imagination and to deal, heal, and cope with the world around me. I graduated from the Prague Private School of Arts and Design. My final thesis, People of the Earth, portrayed people from different cultures, continents, and ethnicities, exploring their shared humanity and their bond with the natural world. This work marked the beginning of a lifelong exploration that continues to shape my art today. |
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The desire to fulfil my longing to live by the sea led me to move to Cyprus, where I met my now-husband, and to Iceland, before we settled permanently in New Zealand. Today, we live in a small historical coastal town surrounded by ocean, native bush, and abundant wildlife, where we raise and homeschool our two young sons. Living and parenting within this ever-changing, breathing ecosystem inspires much of my work through exploration, play and the sense of wonder that children naturally carry.
At the heart of my practice is a questioning of who we are, how we relate to one another, and our place within the living world. I have always felt a deep, immediate sense of belonging to nature. With people, it has not always been the case, but when I experience it, I treasure it deeply. This longing for connection is woven through everything I create.
I often explore interconnection through blurred boundaries between figurative form and abstraction, flora and fauna, reality and dream. My paintings become visual metaphors, telling stories of kindness, courage, resilience, and hope.
I am a lifelong learner and continually push the boundaries of my artistic practice. I create vivid, bold, dream-like paintings primarily working with oils and watercolours, combining the spontaneity and unpredictability of watercolour underpainting with the precision and depth of oil paint.
I am also a passionate animal lover and accept a limited number of animal portrait commissions each year.
My work has been recognized with several Art Awards. It is represented in selected galleries throughout New Zealand and has been exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions. My paintings are held in private collections across New Zealand and worldwide.
At the heart of my practice is a questioning of who we are, how we relate to one another, and our place within the living world. I have always felt a deep, immediate sense of belonging to nature. With people, it has not always been the case, but when I experience it, I treasure it deeply. This longing for connection is woven through everything I create.
I often explore interconnection through blurred boundaries between figurative form and abstraction, flora and fauna, reality and dream. My paintings become visual metaphors, telling stories of kindness, courage, resilience, and hope.
I am a lifelong learner and continually push the boundaries of my artistic practice. I create vivid, bold, dream-like paintings primarily working with oils and watercolours, combining the spontaneity and unpredictability of watercolour underpainting with the precision and depth of oil paint.
I am also a passionate animal lover and accept a limited number of animal portrait commissions each year.
My work has been recognized with several Art Awards. It is represented in selected galleries throughout New Zealand and has been exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions. My paintings are held in private collections across New Zealand and worldwide.
Galleries:
- Helena Bay Gallery, 1392 Old Russell Road, RD 4 Hikurangi N
- The Providore's Gallery, Urupukapuka, Bay of Islands NZ
- Moko ArtSpace, Coromandel, NZ
Awards:
- 2nd Place - Professional Oil/Acrylic category, Royal Easter Show Art Competition, Auckland NZ, 2016
- Winner of People's Popular Choice Award - Waitakere Art, Sculpture & Photography Awards, Auckland NZ, 2015
- Winner of Portrait, Figurative category - Waitakere Art, Sculpture & Photography Awards 2015
- 1rst Place - Professional category, Resene Mural Masterpieces Competition 2014
Exhibitions:
2011 - September - Finalist “The 2012 Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Awards” (Whanganui)
2012 - April - “Figuratively Speaking “ Group exhibition, Artists Den and Art Gallery (Auckland)
2012 - May - Exhibited at “Original Art Sale” (Auckland)
2012 - May - “Natures Best “ Group exhibition, Artists Den and Art Gallery (Auckland)
2012 - July - “3 2 1 Works On Paper ” Group exhibition, Letham Gallery (Auckland)
2012 - August - “People Choice “ finalist, Artists Den and Art Gallery (Auckland)
2012 - September - Exhibited at “The 2012 Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Awards” (Whanganui)
2012 - October - “Rocket Pockets” Group exhibition (Dunedin)
2012 - November - “Ocean Stories” Solo exhibition, Artists Den and Art Gallery (Auckland)
2012 - January - “ Kiwiana “ Group exhibition, Artists Den and Art Gallery (Auckland)
2013 - February - Group exhibition, Ipipiri Art Gallery (Paihia)
2013 - November - Exhibited at “BDO Art Award”, Finalist
2013 - November - “Birds of the Paradise “ Solo exhibition, South Sea Art Gallery (Russell)
2014 - January - Published in “Antennae of Inspiration” Art book by “Out of Step Books”
2014 - February - Mural painting during Ocean & Orchard Wine & Food Festival
2014 - March - Ocean Artists Society member's show, ADEX Asia Dive Expo in Singapore
2014 - April - Kokorareka Art Exhibition at Haratu, Russell, NZ
2014 - September - Selected finalist for “The Art Sale” Claudelands Events Centre, Hamilton
2014 - October - Painting "Share the Same Breath" selected finalist for Waitakere Trusts Art & Sculpture Awards Exhibition
2015 - July - "Matariki Celebration" group exhibition in Jetsom Artspace, Keri Keri
2015 - October - "Belonging" exhibited at Waitakere Trusts Art & Sculpture Awards Exhibition, Auckland Winner
2015 - October - "Art Exhibition at Haratu Kororareka", Group exhibition, (Russell)
2016 - March - "Abundant Season" exhibited at "Royal Easter Show Art Competitions
2022 - December - "Secret Garden" Solo Exhibition, South Sea Art Gallery, Russell NZ
2024 March - Mairangi Art Centre, Mairangi Art Awards, - Finalist, Auckland NZ
2023 - July- "Embracing Matariki" Group Show, South Sea Art Gallery, Russell NZ
2024 - July "Matariki" Group Show, Haratu Gallery Russell NZ
2024 - December -February 2025 Haratu Art Gallery, Summer show, Group exhibition, Russell, Bay of Islands, NZ
2024 - December - January 2025 Reyburn House Gallery, Summer show, Group exhibition, Whangarei, NZ
2024-2025 Quirky Fox Gallery, "Resilience" Group show, Hawera, NZ
2025- March - The providores Gallery, Urupukapuka Island," Toku Tainga" Group show, NZ
2025- April - Cleveland National Art Awards - Finalist, Otago
2025- July - 52nd Riversdale Mixed Media Exhibition, Group Show, NZ
Exhibitions:
2011 - September - Finalist “The 2012 Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Awards” (Whanganui)
2012 - April - “Figuratively Speaking “ Group exhibition, Artists Den and Art Gallery (Auckland)
2012 - May - Exhibited at “Original Art Sale” (Auckland)
2012 - May - “Natures Best “ Group exhibition, Artists Den and Art Gallery (Auckland)
2012 - July - “3 2 1 Works On Paper ” Group exhibition, Letham Gallery (Auckland)
2012 - August - “People Choice “ finalist, Artists Den and Art Gallery (Auckland)
2012 - September - Exhibited at “The 2012 Whanganui National Art Exhibition and Awards” (Whanganui)
2012 - October - “Rocket Pockets” Group exhibition (Dunedin)
2012 - November - “Ocean Stories” Solo exhibition, Artists Den and Art Gallery (Auckland)
2012 - January - “ Kiwiana “ Group exhibition, Artists Den and Art Gallery (Auckland)
2013 - February - Group exhibition, Ipipiri Art Gallery (Paihia)
2013 - November - Exhibited at “BDO Art Award”, Finalist
2013 - November - “Birds of the Paradise “ Solo exhibition, South Sea Art Gallery (Russell)
2014 - January - Published in “Antennae of Inspiration” Art book by “Out of Step Books”
2014 - February - Mural painting during Ocean & Orchard Wine & Food Festival
2014 - March - Ocean Artists Society member's show, ADEX Asia Dive Expo in Singapore
2014 - April - Kokorareka Art Exhibition at Haratu, Russell, NZ
2014 - September - Selected finalist for “The Art Sale” Claudelands Events Centre, Hamilton
2014 - October - Painting "Share the Same Breath" selected finalist for Waitakere Trusts Art & Sculpture Awards Exhibition
2015 - July - "Matariki Celebration" group exhibition in Jetsom Artspace, Keri Keri
2015 - October - "Belonging" exhibited at Waitakere Trusts Art & Sculpture Awards Exhibition, Auckland Winner
2015 - October - "Art Exhibition at Haratu Kororareka", Group exhibition, (Russell)
2016 - March - "Abundant Season" exhibited at "Royal Easter Show Art Competitions
2022 - December - "Secret Garden" Solo Exhibition, South Sea Art Gallery, Russell NZ
2024 March - Mairangi Art Centre, Mairangi Art Awards, - Finalist, Auckland NZ
2023 - July- "Embracing Matariki" Group Show, South Sea Art Gallery, Russell NZ
2024 - July "Matariki" Group Show, Haratu Gallery Russell NZ
2024 - December -February 2025 Haratu Art Gallery, Summer show, Group exhibition, Russell, Bay of Islands, NZ
2024 - December - January 2025 Reyburn House Gallery, Summer show, Group exhibition, Whangarei, NZ
2024-2025 Quirky Fox Gallery, "Resilience" Group show, Hawera, NZ
2025- March - The providores Gallery, Urupukapuka Island," Toku Tainga" Group show, NZ
2025- April - Cleveland National Art Awards - Finalist, Otago
2025- July - 52nd Riversdale Mixed Media Exhibition, Group Show, NZ