Stanka Kordic has been painting in oil since the age of fifteen. Her passion for art led her to the Cleveland Institute of Art, where she graduated in 1985 with a BFA in Illustration, along with a minor in Painting. Since then, she has been a full-time professional artist.

2012 marked a pivotal moment in Kordic’s artistic journey. After years of accepting projects as an illustrator and portrait artist, her personal body of work began to take center stage. The portrait and figure emerged as prominent themes, particularly from a female perspective. Gradually, she adopted a more intuitive approach at the easel, working without a predetermined plan. Emphasizing the pace of the piece became essential to her process. This indirect method of painting in layers provided her with the freedom to respond to both life and the artwork itself. It infused her work with the emotional depth she sought, leading to a commitment to challenge every boundary she explored. Embracing unknown outcomes became a central goal in her creative practice.

Into the Knowing is no exception. It took four months to understand what needed to be revealed. As Kordic describes, “After the third complete restart, I knew I finally had it. The richness of the previous marks was built upon, leaving me free to truly feel my way to the finish. The struggle can be real, and I would have it no other way.”