How an architect turned painter uses structure, symmetry, and emotion to explore the relationship between cities, nature, and the human experience

At first glance, the paintings of Zeljka Paic feel meticulously planned. Precise lines, geometric forms, balanced compositions, and carefully considered proportions immediately reveal an artist with a deep understanding of structure. Yet behind the order lies something more personal: an exploration of emotion, memory, and humanity’s relationship with the spaces we create.

Meeting Paic at Booth 49 during The Other Art Fair Brooklyn offered a glimpse into a creative practice shaped by two worlds that rarely meet so seamlessly. Before becoming a fine artist, she studied architecture. That foundation continues to influence every aspect of her work, providing both a visual vocabulary and a framework for understanding the world around her.

For many viewers, geometry may seem detached from emotion. Paic sees the opposite.

Architecture taught her how forms relate to one another, how balance creates harmony, and how structure can communicate ideas. Through painting, she discovered that these same principles could be used to express feelings and experiences. The result is artwork that feels simultaneously analytical and deeply human.

Her process begins with sketches. Ideas are carefully explored on paper before she decides on the scale of a painting. Yet despite the planning, spontaneity remains essential. She allows herself room to experiment, adapt, and take risks once the work begins.

Titles play a particularly important role in Paic’s artistic practice—they are far more than labels.

For Paic, a title is not merely a label. It is a bridge between artist and viewer, offering clues that help unlock the deeper meaning behind a piece. Every title serves as a condensed narrative, guiding the audience toward the questions and themes embedded within the composition.

Those themes often center on one of her most significant ongoing bodies of work: the Green Architecture series.

Inspired by the relationship between urban development and the natural environment, the series examines how architecture and nature can coexist rather than compete. Living and working in a studio surrounded by trees has strengthened her belief that the future of cities depends on maintaining meaningful connections to green spaces.

This philosophy extends beyond aesthetics into Paic’s broader artistic vision.

Green Architecture is ultimately about preservation, balance, and responsibility. It asks viewers to consider how cities evolve and what might be lost when development ignores the value of nature. Through carefully constructed geometric compositions, Paic creates visual conversations about sustainability, community, and the spaces we leave behind for future generations.

One painting in particular exemplifies this philosophy: a work inspired by Central Park.

Inspired by her first visit to New York City, Paic created a work based on Central Park. Viewed from above, the composition echoes the familiar aerial perspective that has become iconic in photographs of Manhattan. Yet the painting is far more than a representation of a landmark.

For Paic, Central Park represents one of the world’s great examples of green architecture in action. Surrounded by one of the most densely built urban environments on the planet, the park demonstrates how nature can remain an essential part of city life. It serves as a reminder that thoughtful planning can preserve spaces that enrich millions of lives.

Looking at the work, the influence of architecture becomes immediately apparent. Streets, pathways, proportions, and spatial relationships are rendered with remarkable precision. Yet the painting never feels rigid. Instead, it celebrates the harmony between order and organic growth.

That balance mirrors Paic’s own approach to creative life.

She describes herself as both spontaneous and organized. While she embraces inspiration when it arrives, she also understands the practical realities of being a professional artist. Shipping artwork, planning exhibitions, maintaining a studio practice, and managing countless logistical details are all part of the profession.

Rather than resisting those responsibilities, she has learned to embrace them.

Inside her studio, ideas are constantly developing. Sketchbooks filled with concepts, notes, and compositions serve as an archive of future possibilities. For Paic, ideas are the most valuable part of the artistic process. Technical skills can be learned and refined, but a compelling idea remains the foundation of meaningful work.

Her sketchbooks become particularly important when traveling. Returning home after exhibitions and international trips can sometimes interrupt creative momentum, but the sketches provide a roadmap back into the work. There is always another idea waiting to be explored.

This approach reflects a broader philosophy about artistic freedom and creative exploration.

Although she continues developing the Green Architecture series, Paic resists the notion that artists should remain confined to a single subject. Curiosity remains central to her practice, and she allows herself the freedom to move between ideas as inspiration evolves.

The conversation between architecture and painting extends beyond the canvas.

Paic believes the two disciplines continuously inform one another. Her experience as a painter has deepened her understanding of color, visual perception, and atmosphere—elements that traditional architectural training often approaches differently. Conversely, her architectural background provides a unique perspective on composition, structure, and spatial relationships.

Rather than existing as separate pursuits, painting and architecture have become mutually enriching practices.

It is this intersection that makes her work so compelling. Each painting feels both carefully engineered and emotionally resonant. The precision of an architect meets the intuition of an artist, creating images that invite viewers to consider not only what they see, but also how they inhabit the spaces around them.

As Paic continues to develop new work and prepare for future exhibitions in Europe, including upcoming opportunities in Austria, her artistic journey remains rooted in a simple but powerful idea: that geometry, nature, architecture, and emotion are not opposing forces, but interconnected languages capable of shaping how we experience the world.

About Tarik Talk Podcast

Tarik Talk Podcast is an international arts and culture podcast hosted by Tarik Mendes, featuring conversations with artists, curators, designers, cultural leaders, and creative entrepreneurs from around the world. With more than 200 episodes across 50 seasons and interviews recorded in over 10 countries, the podcast explores the ideas, inspirations, and stories that shape contemporary creative practice.