Egle Zvirblyte
‘My body is my temple’. That’s one of the mantras of the Lithuanian illustrator Egle Zvirblyte, who built her artistic career on important themes, such as identity and female power.
This young artist, who is based in London, opened the doors of her studio for TheCornerZine, revealing what stands behind the bright colours of her punchy and impudent art.
First things first, how did you develop your innate creativity?
I think it comes from my upbringing - my dad used to play various games with me and my sister, tell fairy tales before sleep and encourage independent critical thinking. My uncle and aunt are also artists, so it runs in the family.
You’ve lived in Bali, Barcelona, Melbourne and Tokyo. What have you learnt from all this moving and traveling?
It definitely opened up my mind to a lot of new ideas and broadened my visual vocabulary. I love to immerse myself into unfamiliar environments and collect new experiences. Being exposed to a lot of different cultures and lifestyles also helped me to mature as a person and create richer art.
Wear what you feel good in!
Confidence is the ultimate accessory.
That said, how do you define your personal style? Has it changed over the years?
It’s bright, bold, juicy and irreverent. It’s sincere, funny and, sometimes, existentialist. My style is somewhat of an extension of my personality, so it definitely has gone through an evolution over the years. My art is about the subjects that personally interest me in that moment.
You’ve collaborated with so many different companies. What’s your happiest, work-related memory?
I love to work with big teams on big projects and I also love when we are in sync and everything goes smoothly. Building a carousel bar for the ‘Moniker Art Fair’ in New York was a blast, same as painting a mural for the ‘Life Is Beautiful Music & Art Festival’ in Las Vegas - in both places, the projects turned out perfectly and it felt like we were one big, hard-working family.
Through your artworks, you address themes such as ‘identity’ and ‘female power’. Can you tell us more about your art practice and the important messages you’re conveying?
In the end, we all want to live as our true selves, love limitlessly and feel connected.
Any unfinished project you’d like to work on?
I’m a control freak, so no unfinished projects. That being said, I’d love to design a VR game. It’s been at the back of my head for a while now.
You now live in London. How would you describe its creative scene?
You’re exposed to so many cultures, identities and visual information here. Add the endless supply of world-class art, various subcultures and unmatchable academia, and you have a perfect incubator for any kind of art practice. London’s art scene can be elitist, but it also has a grimy and punky underbelly, which I love.
Any style-related advice on how to stand out from the crowd?
Wear what you feel good in! Confidence is the ultimate accessory.
Are you into thrift shopping?
Yes! LA is my favourite place for that.
If you had to pick one single piece from your wardrobe, what would that one piece be?
A bright orange strappy bodysuit. It’s for any occasion.
Where do you feel most at home? Is that place your main source of inspiration?
In Vilnius, where I come from. It’s the place where I feel most grounded, whereas I’m most inspired when I’m experiencing intense sensory adventures.
One last question: what do you hope for the future?
Peace on earth.
At the moment, I’m studying psychology, religions, mysticism, meditation practices, as well as learning from life and my own mistakes. I’m constantly exploring what it’s like to be a human, what the world is made of and the power of female energy.