Art Heals Magazine October 2025 Edition Issue No. 1 Cover Story: Snježana Mayer – The Soulful Brush of Croatia

In the heart of Trogir, Croatia — a city steeped in art, history, and Mediterranean charm — thrives an artist whose vision transcends time and borders. Snježana Mayer, an internationally acclaimed visual artist, painter, designer, and cultural advocate, has been creating art that bridges the sacred and the contemporary, the personal and the universal. Her works, imbued with spiritual energy and profound emotion, tell stories that speak to the soul.

Born in 1963, Snježana’s artistic journey began early, fueled by a passion for color, form, and meaning. A graduate of The School of Fine Arts in Split with a specialization in Painting and Graphic Design, she first honed her skills as a restorer at the Croatian National Theatre in Split in 1979. This formative experience awakened in her a lifelong reverence for cultural preservation — a thread that continues to run through her art today.

Over the decades, Snježana’s career has blossomed across continents. She has participated in countless group exhibitions and held four solo exhibitions, each a reflection of her evolving artistic philosophy. Her portfolio spans an impressive spectrum: from spiritually inspired church paintings and customized client commissions, to murals, graffiti, interior design, and graphic art. Her creations are more than visuals — they are experiences shaped by deep empathy, meticulous craftsmanship, and a profound connection to humanity.

Snježana’s art breathes life into sacred spaces. Her painting “Born of Mary” graces the main altar of the Church of Our Lady of Seget Donji in Croatia, while other pieces reside within the Bishop’s Ordinariate in Split and Seget Donji. Her painting “Lady of Prizidnica” is now part of the Mantovani Foundation Museum of Sacral Art in Larnaca, Cyprus — a testament to her international recognition in both spiritual and fine art realms.

Her creative presence extends far beyond Croatia. A member of multiple international art organizations — including IAC (Islamabad, Pakistan), Artcom Expo International Association of Artists (Norway), UNOTA (Paris, France) where she serves as an Ambassador for Life, CUCBA, and the Writers Capital Foundation — Snježana embodies the ideal of the global artist: open, collaborative, and ever-evolving.

At home, she is equally devoted to her community. As an active member of the Trogir Art Association and the Society for the Protection of Cultural Assets “Radovan”, she works to preserve Croatia’s artistic heritage. She also dedicates her time to nurturing the next generation through children’s art workshops, guiding young artists aged 6 to 15 in exploring creativity and self-expression.

When not in the studio or at exhibitions, Snježana can often be found painting on the streets near the Trogir Town Museum, her easel set beneath the sun, surrounded by curious onlookers and travelers. To her, this is where art truly lives — in connection, conversation, and shared humanity. “I find inspiration in people,” she says. “Every encounter teaches me something new about life and beauty.”

Her achievements on the world stage are as numerous as they are prestigious. In 2024 and 2025 alone, she earned an array of international accolades:

🏅 2nd Place – Fusion Art Gallery, Marbella, Spain

🏅 Gold Medal – Sebastian Gallery, Dubrovnik

🏅 Goblet Award – Montecosaro, Italy

🏅 Concept Award – Golden Duck Gallery, Budapest (for “Moonlight”)

🏅 Premio Awards – Museum of Christian Art, Cyprus; World Triennale Agia Napa, Cyprus; and Città di Montecosaro, Italy

🏅 Copper Medal – Municipal Gallery Toni Vittorino, Portugal

🏅 Medal of Honor – International Festival, Geoje, South Korea

🏅 Excellence Award – Thalassa Municipal Museum, Agia Napa, Cyprus

🏅 Times Square, New York City – 2024 and 2025 International Art Competition Winner

🏅 “Window of the World” Award – Vision Art Media, New York, USA

Her paintings “Trogir,” “I Am Here,” “Moonlight,” “Don’t Cry,” “Sun in the Eyes,” “Wind,” and “Night in the Wind” are now part of prestigious permanent collections in museums and galleries across South Korea, Cyprus, and Europe.

To experience Snježana Mayer’s art is to step into a world where faith meets color, where heritage meets innovation, and where each brushstroke whispers a prayer for beauty and connection. Her journey — from the quiet streets of Trogir to the luminous stages of New York and Seoul — is a testament to the power of art to transcend boundaries and speak the universal language of the heart.

“Art is not just what I create,” she reflects. “It is how I connect with the world — one canvas, one conversation, one soul at a time.”