Manuela Vladić-Maštruko (b. 1962) graduated in Painting from the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb in 1985, in the class of Professor Ferdinand Kulmer.
During her studies she began exhibiting her work and after graduation, she continued her active presence on the art scene. She has held numerous solo and group exhibitions in Croatia and abroad (Germany, Italy, Slovakia, China, Iran, Bulgaria, Slovenia…).
Her artistic practice spans a wide range of media – from painting, drawing, and illustration to animation, installation, computer games and set and costume design. She explores the expressive possibilities of various visual and hybrid forms, often creating a dialogue between visual, musical, and performing arts.
She has undertaken professional study trips and residencies in Italy, France, and Slovakia.
Alongside her artistic career, she has been deeply engaged in art education and creativity across age groups. In 1995, she founded the Mela Art Studio for Children and Youth, which, for more than twenty years, served as a space for artistic growth and imagination.
She is the author of numerous multimedia projects for children and adults and has collaborated with museums and galleries in developing educational programs related to art and heritage.
She publishes essays and professional articles on illustration, participates in international conferences, and has served on juries for major illustration events (Croatian Biennial of Illustration, Grigor Vitez Award, Biennial of Illustration Bratislava).
In 2014, she founded Arte Insula, an association for intercultural dialogue, within which she develops artistic, educational, and publishing projects.
A significant part of her career is dedicated to art for children: she is the author and illustrator of fifteen original picture books and has illustrated numerous works by Croatian and international authors.
Today she focuses on painting and drawing, exploring themes of identity, memory, and the relationship between inner and out.