Born from Bardejov, a small town in eastern Slovakia, Emrach Uskovski discovered the fascinating call of artistic expression that would ultimately guide him on a transformative journey across continents.

From the very beginning, Uskovski started on his artistic adventure as a street muralist, decorating urban walls full of colour and life. However, under the surface of these artworks, a deeper yearning provoked within, a relentless urge to capture the essence of reality on a more intimate canvas.

With each brushstroke, Uskovski designs a visual symphony that goes beyond linguistic and cultural borders, inviting the audience on a deep exploration of the complexity of the human condition.

Freedom, dreams, feelings, unity, beauty, strength, diversity, and more can be found in his artwork of portraits of women covering different ethnicities and races which represents a path of exploration.

Incorporating cross cultural symbols that span the world, Uskovki’s wonderful images tackle a myriad of universal conditions resonating with audiences across the globe.

In this exclusive interview, I delve into the fascinating narrative of Uskovski's artistic evolution, tracing the threads of his past experiences and the influences that have shaped his distinctive aesthetic style.

What were you doing or working on before starting to paint?

Uff! That's a very tough question. I was painting from the very beginning. I studied civil engineering but I’ve done modelling, hosted TV shows, had my own food innovation and company. I have a very versatile background. In terms of my artistic background, I started as a street artist where I was doing murals.

What is art for you?

In my opinion art is the ability to take natural phenomena or ideas and turn it into something unknown. Another approach towards art might be questioning the idea and doing research based on how to achieve this idea.

What is creativity for you?

Creativity is the ability to play around with ideas, or 'playfulness' as we can call it.

How did you first discover your passion for art?

I was drawing from a very young age, so it was always very obvious for me that I needed to go further with art.

Why have you decided to become an artist? Was there a defining moment in your life when you knew you were an artist?

To be honest, there was never a particular interest in becoming an artist. It was more of an urge to create things all the time. It was almost like if I won’t create something or put out what I have in my mind and transfer it to paper or canvas, I would get crazy.

It’s like Jordan Peterson said, artists are transforming chaos into an order and that is exactly like it. Imagine having a trillion ideas about design, questioning reality and trying to explore a world beyond the known spectrum of colours, and in order to stay sane, you need to take all of these out of your mind.

What is your art about? Is there a story?

I would say it is about defying the known spectrum of our reality and exploring what is beyond that. Sometimes it is researching harmony of the colours, sometimes it is questioning the idea of composition — for example, how to incorporate figurative art into abstract, or questioning any individual ideas that come to my mind during the day. Yet the base of my art is very vivid colour contrast and harmony achieved by using totally contradictory colour combinations.

How would you describe your artistic style in three words?

Contrast. Enhanced positivity. Beauty.

Can you walk me through your creative process — from an idea to a finished piece?

It is changing from time to time. Sometimes I have this vision of the art piece in my head where the meaning of that vision comes to me after I paint it. Sometimes I am doing research on different ideas where I ask myself questions and try to find the ways in which to express them on the canvas. Imagine doing philosophy through a canvas.

But one thing is for sure — I create a whole image in my head first. Some artists develop the image as they paint, but to me it is quite the opposite. It is like a new planet is forming and levitating with a matter around it until the full sphere is formed. This sphere is the idea and vision of the art piece, and I will not start until its complete.

How long does a piece take you, approximately?

Depends on how happy I am, but generally it is between 7 to 30 days.

How do you know when a piece is complete?

When I look at the finished piece and its hypnotizes me. That is the moment I know it is finished.

What mediums do you prefer to work with (oils, acrylics, watercolours, etc.) and why?

I work solely with acrylic paint — no smell, fast to dry, and easy to work with.

How do you approach the use of colour in your work?

As I mentioned above, I am trying to explore the harmony in the most unexpected colour combinations while sometimes using technical colour theories.

How do you make your colours so soft, your lines stand out, your smooth finish, your layers of different images?

My intention with my art piece is always to give a smooth harmonical energy that is not screaming but soothing you. And that is the reason I mastered my colouring process: to achieve these soft tones. Using lines is coming from my interest in the Japanese wood cuts and manga culture which I am a huge fan of.

Do you have a formal art education, or are you self taught?

I am completely self taught.

Are there any particular artists who have influenced your work?

No, not many. I am more influenced by styles like the ones that I mentioned previously.

How have your life experiences influenced your aesthetic style?

I was questioning that quite a lot. The reason I am using such vibrant colours is probably due to experiencing a couple of negative events in my life like losing my mother. These kinds of events made me realise that life can be sad and boring, so you just have to choose to create your colourful universe.

How do you think your art reflects your inner world or emotions?

It is quite like a mirror to be honest. There are a couple of pieces that I painted without having a particular idea — it was just a vision. But after finishing them, it struck me just how much it was reflecting my inner world.

Do you find that vulnerability plays a role in your creative process or the subjects you explore?

I think it definitely does. You must be vulnerable to open yourself towards deep sides of your mind where all these visions and ideas are laying.

Do you have any art that shows your vulnerability? If yes, can you tell me which one, and how did you put it into paint?

Not much. I am fully aligned with my vulnerabilities, so I always use my vulnerability as a source of inspiration. You can see it in every piece equally.

Do you have any rituals or routines that help you get into a creative mindset?

As an artist, you just need time where you don't do anything and let your mind do all the work for you.

What motivates you to continue creating art, even during difficult times?

As I mentioned before, it is the urge to create and get ideas out before going crazy.

Have you received criticism or negative feedback about any of your artwork, and how do you handle it when you do?

If there is any opinion about my art, I would love to hear that. Afterwards, I am scaling it to see whether there is something I can do about it.

What’s the funniest critique you've ever received about your work?

Maybe not critiques, but people have very different approaches towards my artwork. There are different things that people see in my art that sometimes makes me smile. But I don't recall any particular one.

What role do you think the artist has in today’s society?

I think there are different types of roles. Some artists have a role of criticizing society and politics, some artists are meant to create new things, and others have a role of representing certain ideas. Some artists have a role of showing us different approaches to already known ideas.

Do you think the arts have a place in politics?

Although I am a very apolitical person, yes, there are plenty of artists that are using politics as a source of inspiration.

What is your dream project?

It is literally every art piece that I do.

What do you find most challenging about being an artist?

First thing is for sure finding your unique style. Without it, you are nobody. Second thing's for sure: sell your art pieces without being affected by crowds and their taste.

Can you tell me about the piece you’re currently working on?

I just finished two new pieces, so I am currently letting my mind come up with something.

What’s the most important advice you could give to an aspiring artist?

Keep creating!

In his art, Emrach Uskovski discovers purpose and meaning, using his art as a sanctuary from the chaos of the outer world and a way to articulate the profound depths of his soul.

As we reflect on the profound impact of his journey, we are reminded that true greatness is not measured by fame or fortune, but by the depth of one's passion and the sincerity of one's artistic insight.