Photo: Urška Boljkovac, MGLC archive
Janja Kosi (1994, Maribor) studied painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Ljubljana, where she also obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in 2016 and her Master’s Degree in 2020. I spent some of her study time at the Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst in Leipzig. I participated in several solo in group shows.
I work in filds of visual arts, illustration and animation.
Visual art
Through the integration of various media into spatial installations, I explore the notions of (non)place, home, homeliness, and the relationship between human presence and architecture.
My practice is a continuous negotiation between perception and space—between what is given and what is constructed.
I question when and how space becomes place, and when place begins to dissolve back into space.
My interest lies in the layers that constitute our spatial experience: the physical, the mental, the emotional, the historical.
Each process begins with collecting—information, images, fragments. These materials are then deconstructed, manipulated, and reconfigured into new arrangements.
New constructions. New (un)possible spaces.
Spaces that resist closure, that remain open to interpretation, to re-reading.
Every project emerges from a concrete question or thematic focus and often unfolds in close dialogue with the specificities of an exhibition space.
The work does not impose resolution—it invites presence.
Illustration
In my illustration practice, I explore the relationship between narrative and image—how a story can unfold visually across different formats and audiences. One of my key interests lies in children’s illustration, where clarity and imagination go hand in hand.
Working across collage, simple drawing, and digital artwork, I seek visual forms that communicate clearly—often through humor. When thoughtfully used, humor opens space for connection, emotion, and understanding. It allows room for both the child and the adult, for joy and complexity.
Animation
In my animation practice, which draws from my background in illustration, I focus on hand-drawn and digital animation. Over the past few years, I have been working with children, guiding them in the creation of stop-motion films.
In this pedagogical context, I prioritize visual precision and artistic quality, ensuring that the children not only develop their creative ideas but also learn the importance of craft and attention to detail in animation. For me, animation is a dynamic medium where each frame contributes to a greater narrative.
