Artist Statement:
As an abstract painter, I am fascinated by taking aspects of my physical world and reconfiguring them into colorful, pattern-laden compositions. The process for each piece varies: I may begin with a basic grid, draw from a photograph I have taken, or start with a color scheme borrowed from an object or form.
I rarely sketch out my ideas, relying instead on intuitive decision-making as I work through each painting. Much of my work goes through multiple reworkings until a visually engaging direction emerges. Patterning is a central component of my practice—sometimes mathematical, sometimes organic—and functions as a way to enhance the forms and colors that develop on the surface, ultimately imbuing each piece with a sense of movement and vitality.
Bio:
Milan Jilka (He/Him) is a contemporary abstract painter. His work involves deconstructing and reconfiguring elements of the natural world—plants, flowers, objects, and colors—into dynamic, colorful, pattern-laden abstract compositions. Milan’s work has been exhibited both locally and nationally, including in the Walton Arts Center’s Our Art Regional Exhibition in Fayetteville, AR (for the past five 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.
In addition to creating art, 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. Milan is of South Asian descent, born in Thun, Switzerland, and is a citizen of both Canada and the United States.
