sculptor & painter
About the Artist
Afrodita Blagojević is a Canadian multidisciplinary artist born in the former Yugoslavia to a family of Greek ancestry. Her practice encompasses sculpture, painting, drawing, mixed media, assemblage, and installation. With seven years of intensive academic training in the visual arts, complemented by studies in photography and archaeology, she combines classical foundations with contemporary experimentation to create a distinctive artistic language.
Over decades of practice, Afrodita has developed a symbolic and figurative vocabulary exploring human existence, emotional complexity, philosophical inquiry, and ethical questions. Informed by Balkan cultural traditions, the experience of diaspora, and European artistic heritage, her work reflects on truth, human nature, suffering, responsibility, and the fragile future of humanity.
Rather than offering definitive answers, her work invites reflection and critical thought. For Afrodita, art is an act of witnessing and a resistance to indifference—a space for questioning, awareness, empathy, and human dignity.
She has exhibited nationally and internationally, created public sculptures and medallions, and is represented in museum, corporate, and private collections. Since immigrating to Canada in 1993, she has continued her artistic practice in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Education
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Academy – University of Fine Arts, Belgrade Department of Sculpture (Equivalent to MFA), 5-year program (1974–1979)
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Fine Arts Teacher Training University – University of Novi Sad Fine Arts Teacher Degree, 2-year program (1972–1974)
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Archaeology Studies, University of Belgrade (1975–1977)
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Photography Diploma, Photo Association of Serbia, Belgrade (1975
Study Travels
Extensive study trips formed an essential part of artistic training, including research of original works by old masters and modern artists across: Italy, France, Greece, Spain, Great Britain, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, former Yugoslavia, Cuba
Permanent Museum Collections
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National Museum, Pozarevac, Serbia
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National Museum, Smederevo, Serbia
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National Museum, Svetozarevo (Jagodina), Serbia
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National Gallery, Paracin, Serbia
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Commemoration Gallery “Mitar Trifunović – Učo”, Bosanski Šamac, Bosnia & Herzegovina
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Cultural Center Gallery, Velika Plana, Serbia
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National Gallery of Raca Kragujevačka, Serbia
Selected Solo Exhibitions
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Canada
1016 – VAL Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2005 – Dunbar Community Centre, Vancouver, BC
2002 – Orthodox Church “St. Arhangel”, Vancouver, BC
2026 – Culture Days, Open Studio, Vancouver, BC
2016 – Canadian Culture Days, Open Studio & Exhibition, Vancouver, BC
2015 – Canadian Culture Days, Open Studio & Exhibition, Vancouver, BC
2011 – Culture Days, Open Studio & Exhibition, Richmond, BC
2011 – Richmond Winter Festival of the Arts, Open Studio, Richmond, BC
2010 – Culture Days, Open Studio, Richmond, BC
2009 – Open Studio, Richmond, BC
2006 – Open Studio, Richmond,
2003 – Open Studio, Richmond, BC
1994 – Open Studio, Vancouver, BC
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Europe
1990 – Museum Gallery, Svetozarevo, Serbia
1989 – Commemoration Building “Mitar Trifunović – Učo”, Bosnia & Herzegovina
1989 – Cultural Center for Education & Information, Gradačac, Bosnia & Herzegovina
1986 – National Museum Gallery, Svetozarevo, Serbia
1986 – City Theatre Gallery, Paracin, Serbia
1985 – National Theatre Gallery, Novi Kneževac, Serbia
1984 – National Museum Gallery, Pozarevac, Serbia
Selected Juried Group Exhibitions
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Canada 1994–2011
Artist Among Us, Richmond Art Gallery (RAG), BC
Alliance Française Vancouver – Serbian Artists from Vancouver
Richmond Art Gallery – Artist Among Us
Del Bello Gallery, Toronto – International Miniature Art Exhibition
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Europe 1979–1994
ULUS Spring & Autumn Salons (Belgrade, Kragujevac)
ULIS Exhibitions (Pozarevac, Smederevo, Velika Plana)
POLIGRUS Exhibitions (Smederevo, Pozarevac, Velika Plana)
Art Pavilion “Cvijeta Zuzorić”, Belgrade – Drawing and Small Sculpture
Regional exhibitions in Sisak, Bitola, Gradačac, and others
Anniversary exhibitions at Gymnasium “Jovan Serbanović”, Pozarevac
Artists’ Colony Exhibitions: Visevac 88, Pokajnica 88
Public Commissions
Public Sculptures
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1987 – Sculpture commemorating Vuk Stefanović-Karadžić (200-year anniversary), High School “Jovan Serbanović”, Pozarevac
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1986 – Portrait sculpture of Dr. Nikola Hadži-Nikolić, Hospital “Dr. Voja Dulić”, Pozarevac
Public Medallions
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1987 – Medallion “Dr. Voja Dulić” – Outstanding Awards in Medicine
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1985 – Medallion for Metallurgists Competition
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1980 – Medallion “Brothers Vujović” – Cultural Achievement Award
Additional commissioned works are held in corporate and private collections internationally.
Artists in Residence
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1989 – Pokajnica, Raca Kragujevačka, Serbia
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1988 – Visevac, Velika Plana, Serbia
Awards
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1992 – ULIS Award for Contribution to Regional Fine Arts
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1986 – ULIS Award for Sculpture
Professional Memberships
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Member, ULUS – Association of Professional Fine Artists of Serbia (1980–present)
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Freelance Artist, Serbia & Yugoslavia (1981–1993)
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President, POLIGRUS Professional Fine Artists Association (1982–1993)
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President, ULIS “Milena Pavlović-Barili” Fine Artists Association (1982–1993)
Publications & Media
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RTV Belgrade (1984–1993) – Frequent coverage of exhibitions and interviews
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Rogers TV Vancouver (1997) – Feature presentation
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Multinational Channel Vancouver (2005) – Feature presentation
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Annual Serbian Art Calendar (2000) – Artwork reproduction
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Medical Catalogue Program (1988) – Cover design
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Numerous articles in Yugoslav newspapers: Politika, Ekspres Politika, Reč Naroda, Bulletin of Medical History