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 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.
- The New Spell (2008)
- Maja Maljevic, Into the Spine (2009)
- 2 Months Thursdays (2010)
- Maja Maljevic, Bubble and Leak (2011)
- Contemporary South African Prints: DKW and I-Jusi (2011)
- Untitled: DKW Summer Show (2011)
- Imprint: Selected Editions and Works on Paper (2012)
- Maja Maljevic, Revisited (2012)
- Maja Maljevic, Ex Nihilo (2012)
- DKW Review 2012 (2012)
- THE PRINT SHOW at EBONY Cape Town (2013)
- 2013 Year End Review (2013)
- Cape Town Art Fair 2014 (2014)
- MATRIX (2014)
- Horror Vacui by Maja Maljević (2014)
- Equinox – A Group Exhibition of New Editions and Unique Works (2014)
- The Benediction of Shade II – Arts on Main (2015)
- The Benediction of Shade II (2015)
- Carved: Relief Print Group Exhibitions (2015)
- Along The Line – Group Painting Exhibition (2015)
- Inch x Inch: an exhibition of small works (2016)
- Disrupted by Maja Maljević (2016)
- 365 Days of Projects and Collaborations (2016)
- MANTEGNA | DKW PRINTS (2017)
- A Piece of Work: An Exhibition of Various Unique Works (2017)
- The Colourist Manifesto (2018)
- Polytekton by Maja Maljević (2018)
- Life Amongst Cats (2019)
- Treasure Trove (2019)
- The Silence of the Change (2019)
- Kind of Blue (2019)
- Checkerboard Room Exhibition | Kind of Blue Extension (2019)
- Pictures worth a thousand words (2020)
- Creature Feature (2021)
- Alone of its Kind (2022)
- ‘Based on a true story’ by MAJA MALJEVIĆ (2022)
- 2022 – A Year in Review (2022)
- Women in the Workshop (2023)
- Summer Salon (2023)
- Maja Maljević : Showtime (2025)
- Maja Maljević | POLYTEKTON Artist interrogation
- Launch of LATITUDES Online 2020 | Discover, Collect & Learn
- David Krut Podcast & Video Playlist: Womens Month 2020
- A look back at new editions, projects & collaborations from 2020
- Maja Maljević: New Monochromatic Monoprints – A Photo Essay
- Maja Maljevic 4 U Series
- David Krut Podcast: Maja Maljević – Creating a Home for Chaos and Harmony | Listening time: 18 minutes
- DKW Intern – Danijela Cook
- What is a Monotype and Monoprint?
- New Monotype Series by Maja Maljević – A Fresh New Perspective
- My Printmaking Reverie by Jesse Shepstone
- US Printmaker in Residence | Lauren Krukowski
- David Krut Workshop | Where we are!
- ‘Behind the Scenes’ with Maja Maljevic
- Beyond the Page: Woordfees 2024
- Review of Polytekton for ArtForum Critic's Pick 2018
- Artist-designed blanket: 'Ludo' in collaboration with Maja Maljević and Something Good Studio
- Spotting patterns by Vivienne Baillie Gerritsen August 2020 - Inclusion of Zig Zag (2019)
Artworks
News
David Krut Projects at the Brooklyn Fine Art Print Fair
Established in the West Chelsea Building in 2001, David Krut Projects Artspace, New York continues to connect the David Krut...
Beyond the Page: Woordfees 2024
Woordfees began in 2000 with a focus on celebrating Afrikaans literature and has now become one of the largest arts...
‘Behind the Scenes’ with Maja Maljevic
MAJA MALJEVIC The David Krut Projects has welcomed back Maja Maljevic to the Workshop this month, August 2024. She is...
David Krut Workshop | Where we are!
The David Krut Workshop (DKW) is the centre of David Krut Project’s artistic collaborations. David Krut Workshop is located in downtown Johannesburg,...
US Printmaker in Residence | Lauren Krukowski
Lauren Krukowski is a second-year Master of Fine Arts candidate at the University of Iowa in the United States, studying...
My Printmaking Reverie by Jesse Shepstone
Jesse Shepstone recently completed a 2 month internship at the David Krut Workshop. Find out all about his experience below!...
New Monotype Series by Maja Maljević – A Fresh New Perspective
Text by Christa Swanepoel | Technical advice and quotes by Roxy Kaczmarek I recently had the privilege of visiting and...
What is a Monotype and Monoprint?
By Roxy Kaczmarek & Melissa Waters Detail of Heidi Fourie’s watercolour monotype The lost ones, 2021. Monotypes are known to...
DKW Intern – Danijela Cook
Danijela Cook – Intern at David Krut Workshop, February 2022. Danijela carving shapes in lino for artist Maja Maljević. After...
David Krut Podcast: Maja Maljević – Creating a Home for Chaos and Harmony | Listening time: 18 minutes
Join host Britt Lawton and Serbian born artist Maja Maljević in this long overdue episode. The pair are in conversation...
Maja Maljević: New Monochromatic Monoprints – A Photo Essay
In late 2021, long-time collaborator Maja Maljević was back in the workshop beginning new works that will be showcased over...
A look back at new editions, projects & collaborations from 2020
The year 2020 was a productive year as we saw new editions and projects by a variety of artists in...
David Krut Podcast & Video Playlist: Womens Month 2020
The David Krut Projects team wishes you a very HAPPY WOMEN'S MONTH!! We are keeping you inspired by bringing you...
Launch of LATITUDES Online 2020 | Discover, Collect & Learn
We are thrilled to be a part of the new Latitudes Online Platform as David Krut Projects (Gallery) and as...
Maja Maljević Lockdown Editions from David Krut Workshop (DKW)
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...
Project Prep at David Krut Workshop
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...
The Print Club launched in collaboration with Mesh Club at the Keyes art Mile
MESH CLUB is extremely proud to partner with David Krut Projects to bring together a collection dedicated exclusively to printed works of art...
Maja Maljević ‘Document for the People’ installed at DKW Arts on Main
[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...
Kids Workshop – Make your own Maja Maljević
On Saturday the 22nd of September 2018, we hosted a ‘Make your own Maja’ children’s print workshop with Maja Maljević...
Art Forum’s Critic Pick: Maja Maljevic
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
This is a special edition episode where Serbian born artist Maja Maljević is under interrogation by Master Printer Jillian Ross....
Maja Maljević – Polytekton (poly=many tekton=artisan, maker or craftsman)
[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...
Maja Maljević – Document for the People
David Krut Projects is proud to announce new editions by Maja Maljević. The series was made at the David Krut...
The Making of ‘Documents for the People’ by Maja Maljević, 2018
A behind the scenes look at artist Maja Maljević at work with the David Krut Workshop (DKW) team under the...
The Proof is in the Printmaking
Explaining Proofs in printmaking at the David Krut Workshop (DKW) At the David Krut Workshop (DKW) we specialize in edition...
Print/s of the Month | Maja Maljevic
Serbian born artist Maja Maljevic has had several successful solo exhibitions in South Africa and completed an important commission for...
Artist Feature: Maja Maljević
Maja Maljević enjoys a play between the figurative and abstract in creating works that are ultimately ambiguous and elusive. They...
David Krut ARCHIVE
DAVID KRUT PROJECTS ARCHIVE Opening the Archives Opening the Archives gives the public the opportunity to view and buy works...
Maja Maljevic develops a “selfie” painting series 2016-08
10.08.16 By David Krut associated artist, Maja Maljevic SELFIE My first response to the brief was to test the classical...
What’s new at DKW? A display of prints and paintings curated by our staff 2016-08
08/08/16 Blogger: Jessie Cohen (JC) There is a new display of work on the walls at DKW - a combination...
July in Review – what have the DKP team and our associated artists been up to?
22.07.16 This month, we showcased a rich selection of contemporary artists at Turbine Art Fair (TAF), including Quinten Williams, Mary Wafer, Robyn...
Drawings In The Sky 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
To capture and describe my creative process is like putting music into words - something essential gets lost in translation....
Maja Maljevic at DKW Arts on Main
Maja Maljevic has recently been working at David Krut Print Workshop, Arts on Main, on a series of monotypes as...
THE PRINT SHOW at Ebony Cape Town, Installation Images
Here are a few installation images of THE PRINT SHOW, a collaboration between David Krut Projects and Ebony Cape Town....
Maja Maljevic – Revisited at NIROX Projects, 6 – 27 May 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
Text by Jacqueline Nurse In 1863, Édouard Manet painted Olympia and, in so doing, instigated the reinvention of painting. Suddenly,...
Maja Maljević – Revisited – Exhibition Opening 6 May 2012
Maja Maljević will be exhibiting at Nirox Projects, Arts on Main, from 6 May to 27 May 2012. Maja Maljević...
Untitled: DKW Summer Show (5 November 2011 – 21 January 2012)
The David Krut Projects Summer Show for 2011 features artworks from a wide selection of artists, most of whom have...
Maja Maljević’s “Nirox Diaries”
Maja Maljević was recently in residence at NIROX Foundation from 2 September to 17 September with German artist Tatjana Doll. Towards...
David Krut Projects at Joburg Art Fair 2011
David Krut Projects will be showcasing work by Bruce Backhouse, Gail Behrmann, Deborah Bell, Bronwen Findlay, Claire Gavronsky, Joseph Hart, Stephen...
IMPRINT: Selected Editions and Works on Paper, Installation Images
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
Camerawork and Editing: Liesl van Wyk © TAXI Art Films and David Krut Publishing
Maja Maljevic’s monotype project extended and Sam Nhlengethwa at AOM
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
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
Richard Penn and Maja Maljevic worked at Arts on Main for the second week of the Monotype project. This week,...