Aurela Kumanaku- Faded blue dreams
2023
Aurela Kumanaku was born on July 1, 2000, in Albania. Trained in Architecture, Interior and Design, her artistic path draws from a strong bond with nature and her rural origins, particularly with flowers, which are recurring elements in her work. Her painting practice developed as a response to personal anxiety, becoming both an expressive outlet and a therapeutic space. Her visual language is characterized by the use of acrylic and oil pastels on unconventional supports like brown packaging paper. She currently lives and works between Albania and the United States. Aurela Kumanaku’s paintings are vivid fragments of interior life. Her portraits, often intimate and raw, speak of isolation, introspection, and the fragile rituals of everyday life. Through a palette of bold tones and a spontaneous use of line, she builds spaces of emotional resonance that transcend traditional technique.
Her works—whether painted on textured paper or digitally recreated—offer viewers an experience of closeness and identification. The aesthetic of imperfection, the references to solitude, and the presence of personal objects make her pieces tender yet universal. Her art does not demand understanding—it invites emotional response.
Why NNC Gallery selected Aurela Kumanaku
Because of her authentic voice and the sincerity of her practice. Kumanaku uses art as a bridge between personal struggle and collective healing. Her ability to transform vulnerability into a powerful aesthetic gesture reflects the values of inclusion, self-reflection, and artistic integrity that guide the curatorial vision of NNC Gallery.
Statement
My artistic journey began as a healing process. A few years ago, anxiety became overwhelming, and painting offered me a safe and transformative space. I began to use what I had on hand—brown paper and basic pastels—turning simplicity into an aesthetic choice. Art allowed me to explore my emotional landscape and gave form to my inner turmoil.
My goal is to encourage others to do the same: use drawing, color, and creativity to access their emotions without fear or judgment. Today, I also lead art therapy workshops at community centers such as GEMA, helping others connect with themselves through visual expression. Art is my tool to speak openly about mental health, vulnerability, and self-growth.