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DARIA BALUTA

DARIA BALUTA (b. 1985) is a Russian-born artist based in Cape Town, South Africa.

Her practice centres on the use of pigmented epoxy resin layered onto an acrylic base. Through this process, she builds surfaces where colour and light interact in subtle and shifting ways. The resin creates a distinctive depth and gloss, allowing light to move through the work and change its appearance depending on the viewer’s position.

Baluta’s approach is guided as much by control as by chance. The fluid nature of the material introduces elements of unpredictability, with colours blending and settling in ways that cannot be fully predetermined. This balance between intention and spontaneity is central to her work.

A recurring idea in her practice is the brain’s ability to adapt and form new pathways—often referred to as neuroplasticity. The layered structure of her work reflects this process. Each layer builds on what came before, suggesting gradual change, adjustment and the possibility of transformation over time.

Baluta began developing her practice after relocating to South Africa, and her work continues to evolve through an ongoing engagement with both painting and material experimentation.