Maja Maljević

Maja Maljević was born in Belgrade, Serbia, in 1973. Having completed her schooling, she spent seven years obtaining her Masters in Fine Arts at the University of Belgrade, graduating in 1999. In 2000 she moved to South Africa, in order to escape the political turmoil in her own country. She has been living and working in Johannesburg since then. Maljević’s particular style begins with “dirtying” the canvas with a layer of bright paint that breaks the baldness of the white surface and opens up the space for Maljević’s intuitive jigsaw endeavour. Onto this ground, Maljević builds up surfaces with drips, blocks, bands and waves of colour, searching for harmony between colour and form, line and shape, expansive surface and small detail. For Maljević, physical movement is an important part of the process – never can she be found sitting at an easel. Through her own version of gestural abstraction, Maljević prevents the composition from becoming staid and self-indulgent, as she has put it, and allows action and conflict to occur between the different elements with which she is engaged. Reworking the formal mechanisms of Modernism to suit her contemporary needs – as a painter, a printmaker and also most recently...

Maja Maljević was born in Belgrade, Serbia, in 1973. Having completed her schooling, she spent seven years obtaining her Masters in Fine Arts at the University of Belgrade, graduating in 1999. In 2000 she moved to South Africa, in order to escape the political turmoil in her own country. She has been living and working in Johannesburg since then. Maljević’s particular style begins with “dirtying” the canvas with a layer of bright paint that breaks the baldness of the white surface and opens up the space for Maljević’s intuitive jigsaw endeavour. Onto this ground, Maljević builds up surfaces with drips, blocks, bands and waves of colour, searching for harmony between colour and form, line and shape, expansive surface and small detail. For Maljević, physical movement is an important part of the process – never can she be found sitting at an easel. Through her own version of gestural abstraction, Maljević prevents the composition from becoming staid and self-indulgent, as she has put it, and allows action and conflict to occur between the different elements with which she is engaged. Reworking the formal mechanisms of Modernism to suit her contemporary needs – as a painter, a printmaker and also most recently as a sculptor – Maljević’s primary objective is coherence between all the individual elements within a composition, whether they are in conflict or co-existing harmoniously, and therefore its integral logic. Maja Maljević first began collaborating with David Krut Workshop (DKW) in 2007, when she began experimenting with printmaking as a way to expand her painting practice. Since then, she has created several bodies of work with Master Printer Jillian Ross and the team at DKW. Maljević has had eight solo exhibitions with David Krut Projects, all of which have presented both prints made in collaboration with DKW and paintings in oil and acrylic. Maljević has also been part of many group exhibitions at DKP over the years and has conducted numerous workshops with children based on her specific style of work.

Artworks

News

David Krut Projects at the Brooklyn Fine Art Print Fair
Mar. 28, 2025

Established in the West Chelsea Building in 2001, David Krut Projects Artspace, New York continues to connect the David Krut...

Tags: Arts on Main, David Krut Print Workshop, David Krut Projects, David Krut Projects New York, Exhibition
Beyond the Page: Woordfees 2024
Oct. 17, 2024

Woordfees began in 2000 with a focus on celebrating Afrikaans literature and has now become one of the largest arts...

Tags: Beyond the Page, boschendal, Brundyn arts, David Krut Projects, litrature, woordfees, works on paper
‘Behind the Scenes’ with Maja Maljevic
Aug. 28, 2024

MAJA MALJEVIC The David Krut Projects has welcomed back Maja Maljevic to the Workshop this month, August 2024. She is...

Tags: Arts on Main, collage, David Krut Print Workshop, David Krut Projects, David Krut Projects Johannesburg, Drypoint, Kim-Lee Loggenberg-Tim, Monotype, Roxy Kaczmarek
David Krut Workshop | Where we are!
Jul. 25, 2024

The David Krut Workshop (DKW) is the centre of David Krut Project’s artistic collaborations. David Krut Workshop is located in downtown Johannesburg,...

Tags: Arts on Main, Center for the Less Good Idea, David Krut Print Workshop, David Krut Projects, David Krut Projects Arts on Main, David Krut Projects Johannesburg, David Krut Workshop, Home of the Bean, Jillian Ross, Mary Sibande, Mikhael Subotzky, Mikhael Subotzy, Printmaking, Project Inflamed, william kentridge
US Printmaker in Residence | Lauren Krukowski
Jul. 12, 2022

Lauren Krukowski is a second-year Master of Fine Arts candidate at the University of Iowa in the United States, studying...

Tags: Arts on Main, David Krut Print Workshop, David Krut Projects, etching, Monotype, printmakers
My Printmaking Reverie by Jesse Shepstone
Jun. 23, 2022

Jesse Shepstone recently completed a 2 month internship at the David Krut Workshop. Find out all about his experience below!...

Tags: Arts on Main, David Krut Print Workshop, David Krut Projects, Internship
New Monotype Series by Maja Maljević – A Fresh New Perspective
Apr. 22, 2022

Text by Christa Swanepoel | Technical advice and quotes by Roxy Kaczmarek  I recently had the privilege of visiting and...

Tags: Arts on Main, David Krut Print Workshop, David Krut Projects, David Krut Projects Arts on Main, David Krut Projects Johannesburg, David Krut Workshop, maja maljevic, Monoprint, Monotype, Printmaking, Roxy Kaczmarek, Sarah Judge
What is a Monotype and Monoprint? 
Mar. 15, 2022

By Roxy Kaczmarek & Melissa Waters Detail of Heidi Fourie’s watercolour monotype The lost ones, 2021. Monotypes are known to...

Tags: Alone of its kind, David Krut Print Workshop, David Krut Projects Johannesburg, David Krut Workshop, Exhibition, Monotype, Printmaking
DKW Intern – Danijela Cook
Mar. 4, 2022

Danijela Cook – Intern at David Krut Workshop, February 2022. Danijela carving shapes in lino for artist Maja Maljević. After...

Tags: Arts on Main, David Krut Print Workshop, Printmaking
David Krut Podcast: Maja Maljević – Creating a Home for Chaos and Harmony | Listening time: 18 minutes
Jan. 20, 2022

Join host Britt Lawton and Serbian born artist Maja Maljević in this long overdue episode. The pair are in conversation...

Tags: Britt Lawton, David Krut Podcast, David Krut Print Workshop, polytekton, Printmaking
Maja Maljević: New Monochromatic Monoprints – A Photo Essay
Jan. 18, 2022

In late 2021, long-time collaborator Maja Maljević was back in the workshop beginning new works that will be showcased over...

Tags: Collaboration, Collaborative printmaking, collage, David Krut Print Workshop, etching, hardground etching, Linocut, Monoprint, Printmaking, silkscreen, softground etching, Unique Works
A look back at new editions, projects & collaborations from 2020
Jan. 15, 2021

The year 2020 was a productive year as we saw new editions and projects by a variety of artists in...

Tags: 2020
David Krut Podcast & Video Playlist: Womens Month 2020
Aug. 11, 2020

The David Krut Projects team wishes you a very HAPPY WOMEN'S MONTH!! We are keeping you inspired by bringing you...

Tags: David Krut Podcast, Female Artists, podcasts, Videos, Women's Month
Launch of LATITUDES Online 2020 | Discover, Collect & Learn
Jul. 28, 2020

We are thrilled to be a part of the new Latitudes Online Platform as David Krut Projects (Gallery) and as...

Tags: 2020, David Krut Print Workshop, Jillian Ross, kids workshop, latitudes art fair, Latitudes Online, Maja Maljević, Online, Pebofatso Mokoena, workshop
Maja Maljević Lockdown Editions from David Krut Workshop (DKW)
Jul. 15, 2020

4 You Series by Maja Maljevic Text by Roxy Kaczmarek and Kim-Lee Loggenberg 2020 Pokret, 2020, drypoint and silkscreen with monotype and softground etching collage pieces...

Tags: covid-19 lockdown, David krut Artist Features, David Krut Workshop, DKW, Documents for the people, editioning, Editions, kids workshop, Kim-Lee Loggenberg, Maja Maljević, polytekton, Roxy Kaczmarek, Silence of the change, Studio, winter files
DO-IT-AT-HOME ACTIVITIES
May. 19, 2020

Click Here INTAGLIO PRINT SERIES RELIEF PRINT SERIES

Tags: Chad Cordeiro, David Krut Print Workshop, Deborah Bell, Heidi Fourie, intaglio print series, Kim-Lee Loggenberg, Linocut, live zoom demos, Lynda Ballen, Maja Maljević, Monotype, Olivia Botha, Pebofatso Mokoena, pochior, relief print series, Roxy Kaczmarek, Sarah Judge, Sbongiseni Khulu, zhi zulu
Project Prep at David Krut Workshop
Apr. 8, 2020

Written by Sarah Judge Think about a chocolate cake! Doesn’t that sound delicious? If I wanted to eat a home-baked cake it wouldn’t just appear, right? Maybe if I had super...

Tags: Arts on Main, Chad Cordeiro, David Krut Workshop, Jillian Ross, Kim-Lee Loggenberg, Maja Maljević, Mikhael Subotzky, Printmaking, printmaking south africa, Sarah Judge, Sbongiseni Khulu, william kentridge
The Print Club launched in collaboration with Mesh Club at the Keyes art Mile
Nov. 29, 2018

MESH CLUB is extremely proud to partner with David Krut Projects to bring together a collection dedicated exclusively to printed works of art...

Tags: Keyes Art Mile, Mesh Club, On Paper, Printmaking, Prints
Maja Maljević ‘Document for the People’ installed at DKW Arts on Main
Nov. 29, 2018

[caption id="attachment_48700" align="aligncenter" width="465"] Document for the People 28[/caption] The print collage series titled Document for the People were part of...

Tags: Arts on Main, Collaborative printmaking, David Krut Print Workshop, David Krut Projects Johannesburg, David Krut Workshop, DKW, Drypoint, etching, Exhibition, Maja Maljević, Printmaking
Kids Workshop – Make your own Maja Maljević
Sep. 27, 2018

On Saturday the 22nd of September 2018, we hosted a ‘Make your own Maja’ children’s print workshop with Maja Maljević...

Tags: children, children's workshop, Collaborative printmaking, David Krut Print Workshop, David Krut Projects, David Krut Projects Johannesburg, DKW, ink, kids, kids workshop, Linocut, Monotype, Printmaking, screenprinting, silkscreen, workshop
Art Forum’s Critic Pick: Maja Maljevic
Sep. 19, 2018

Maja Maljević's exhibition, Polytekton, was chosen as Artforum International's critic pick for Johannesburg. "The centerpiece of her exhibition “Polytekton” is a...

PODCAST E23 | Polytekton: Artist Interrogation with Maja Maljević
Sep. 5, 2018

This is a special edition episode where Serbian born artist Maja Maljević is under interrogation by Master Printer Jillian Ross....

Tags: #DavidKrutPodcast
Maja Maljević – Polytekton (poly=many tekton=artisan, maker or craftsman)
Sep. 2, 2018

[video width="960" height="540" mp4="http://davidkrutprojects.com/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Maja-Trailer.mp4"][/video] Maljević has been making prints with the David Krut Workshop (DKW) since 2007. Over the years she...

Tags: Artist, Arts on Main, Collaborative printmaking, David Krut Print Workshop, David Krut Projects, David Krut Projects Johannesburg, Jillian Ross, Linocut, Maja Maljević, Monotype, Printmaking, silks screen
Maja Maljević – Document for the People
Aug. 22, 2018

David Krut Projects is proud to announce new editions by Maja Maljević. The series was made at the David Krut...

Tags: Artist, David Krut Print Workshop, David Krut Projects, David Krut Projects Johannesburg, Exhibition
The Making of ‘Documents for the People’ by Maja Maljević, 2018
Jul. 29, 2018

A behind the scenes look at artist Maja Maljević at work with the David Krut Workshop (DKW) team under the...

Tags: David Krut Workshop
The Proof is in the Printmaking
Apr. 20, 2018

Explaining Proofs in printmaking at the David Krut Workshop (DKW) At the David Krut Workshop (DKW) we specialize in edition...

Tags: David Krut Workshop, Editions, print glossary, print terms, printmakers, Printmaking, Proofs, State Proofs, workshop
Print/s of the Month | Maja Maljevic
Oct. 5, 2017

Serbian born artist Maja Maljevic has had several successful solo exhibitions in South Africa and completed an important commission for...

Tags: Arts on Main, David Krut, David Krut Print Workshop, David Krut Projects, David Krut Projects Arts on Main, David Krut Projects Johannesburg, Maja Maljević, Monoprint, Monotype, Printmaking, Woodcut
Artist Feature: Maja Maljević
May. 19, 2017

Maja Maljević enjoys a play between the figurative and abstract in creating works that are ultimately ambiguous and elusive. They...

Tags: bookstore, colour, David Krut Bookstores, David Krut Projects, featured artist, maja, Maja Maljević, painting, Serbia
David Krut ARCHIVE
Apr. 6, 2017

DAVID KRUT PROJECTS ARCHIVE Opening the Archives Opening the Archives gives the public the opportunity to view and buy works...

Tags: David Krut Archive
Maja Maljevic develops a “selfie” painting series 2016-08
Aug. 10, 2016

10.08.16 By David Krut associated artist, Maja Maljevic SELFIE My first response to the brief was to test the classical...

Tags: David Krut Projects
What’s new at DKW? A display of prints and paintings curated by our staff 2016-08
Aug. 8, 2016

08/08/16 Blogger: Jessie Cohen (JC) There is a new display of work on the walls at DKW - a combination...

Tags: David Krut Print Workshop, David Krut Projects Arts on Main
July in Review – what have the DKP team and our associated artists been up to?
Jul. 22, 2016

22.07.16 This month, we showcased a rich selection of contemporary artists at Turbine Art Fair (TAF), including Quinten Williams, Mary Wafer, Robyn...

Tags: David Krut Print Workshop, David Krut Projects Cape Town, David Krut Projects Johannesburg
Drawings In The Sky 2015
Sep. 10, 2015

DK Artist Maja Maljevića along with Faith47, Haroon Gunn-Salie and Simon Gush are featured in the second edition of 'Drawings...

Artist Statement: Maja Maljević
Apr. 29, 2014

To capture and describe my creative process is like putting music into words - something essential gets lost in translation....

Tags: Artist Statement
Maja Maljevic at DKW Arts on Main
Jul. 5, 2013

Maja Maljevic has recently been working at David Krut Print Workshop, Arts on Main, on a series of monotypes as...

Tags: Arts on Main, Collaborative printmaking, Monotype
THE PRINT SHOW at Ebony Cape Town, Installation Images
Jun. 18, 2013

Here are a few installation images of THE PRINT SHOW, a collaboration between David Krut Projects and Ebony Cape Town....

Tags: Collaboration, Printmaking
Maja Maljevic – Revisited at NIROX Projects, 6 – 27 May 2012
May. 20, 2012

In 1863, Édouard Manet painted Olympia and, in so doing, instigated the reinvention of painting. Suddenly, painting was liberated from...

Maja Maljević – Revisited – Installation and Opening Images- May 6 – 27, 2012
May. 5, 2012

Text by Jacqueline Nurse In 1863, Édouard Manet painted Olympia and, in so doing, instigated the reinvention of painting. Suddenly,...

Tags: Arts on Main, Exhibition, Maja Maljević, Nirox
Maja Maljević – Revisited – Exhibition Opening 6 May 2012
Apr. 18, 2012

Maja Maljević will be exhibiting at Nirox Projects, Arts on Main, from 6 May to 27 May 2012. Maja Maljević...

Tags: Arts on Main, David Krut Projects, Exhibtion, Nirox
Untitled: DKW Summer Show (5 November 2011 – 21 January 2012)
Nov. 1, 2011

The David Krut Projects Summer Show for 2011 features artworks from a wide selection of artists, most of whom have...

Tags: David Krut Projects, Exhibition Post
Maja Maljević’s “Nirox Diaries”
Oct. 11, 2011

Maja Maljević was recently in residence at NIROX Foundation from 2 September to 17 September with German artist Tatjana Doll. Towards...

Tags: Maja Maljević, Nirox Foundation
David Krut Projects at Joburg Art Fair 2011
Sep. 17, 2011

David Krut Projects will be showcasing work by Bruce Backhouse, Gail Behrmann, Deborah Bell, Bronwen Findlay, Claire Gavronsky, Joseph Hart, Stephen...

Tags: First Cut, Johannesburg Art Fair 2011
IMPRINT: Selected Editions and Works on Paper, Installation Images
Jul. 20, 2011

David Krut Projects is pleased to present IMPRINT, a selection of editions and works on paper by local and international...

FILM: Taryn Hackett talks about Maja Maljević’s “Bubble and Leak” Exhibition
Feb. 10, 2011

Camerawork and Editing: Liesl van Wyk © TAXI Art Films and David Krut Publishing

Tags: Film
Maja Maljevic’s monotype project extended and Sam Nhlengethwa at AOM
Aug. 19, 2010

Maja Maljevic’s monotype project has been extended. Maljevic is working on finalising the work she has done throughout the last...

Genevieve Lowe and Hannah Dumes in South Africa
Jul. 30, 2010

Genevieve Lowe and Hannah Dumes are responsible for running David Krut Projects in New York. They are curently in South...

Richard Penn and Maja Maljevic at Arts on Main
Jul. 22, 2010

Richard Penn and Maja Maljevic worked at Arts on Main for the second week of the Monotype project. This week,...

Tags: Monotype

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