Artist Statement:
As an abstract painter, I am fascinated by taking aspects of my physical world and reconfiguring them into colorful, pattern-laden compositions. My process varies from piece to piece: I may begin with a basic grid, draw from a photograph I have taken, or build outward from a color scheme borrowed from a particular object or form. I rarely sketch out my ideas in advance, relying instead on intuitive decision-making as each painting unfolds. Much of my work moves through multiple reworkings before a compelling visual direction takes hold.
Patterning is central to my practice—sometimes mathematical, sometimes organic—and functions as a means of activating the forms and colors that emerge on the surface. It is through pattern that each composition finds its sense of movement and vitality.
Bio:
Milan Jilka (he/him) is a contemporary abstract painter whose work deconstructs and reconfigures elements of the natural world—plants, flowers, objects, and color—into dynamic, pattern-laden compositions. His paintings are characterized by vivid color, intuitive mark-making, and a layered approach to surface that draws from both observation and abstraction.
Milan's work has been exhibited locally and nationally, including in the Walton Arts Center's "Our Art" regional exhibition in Fayetteville, AR (five consecutive years); the Arkansas Arts Council's 2024 Small Works on Paper touring exhibition and permanent collection; Mixd Gallery and Midnight Gallery in Bentonville, AR; and Arc Gallery in San Francisco, CA. His artwork was most recently published in issue #52 of Suboart Magazine.
In addition to his studio practice, Milan has been a Visual Arts educator in Springdale, AR, for the past ten years. He holds a PhD in Art Education from the University of North Texas and an MFA in Painting from the University of Arkansas. Of South Asian descent, Milan was born in Thun, Switzerland, and holds dual citizenship in Canada and the United States.
