Ruta Jusionyte - rabbit family

Rabbit Family – Ruta Jusionyte

Rabbit Family brings together four figures with hare-like ears, their heads pressed close together and their shoulders almost merging into one another. The bodies lean gently against each other, suggesting solidarity and mutual support. The almond-shaped eyes, a signature element of Ruta Jusionyte’s work, give the scene a particular emotional intensity. The glazed surface, with its soft tones of white and ochre, further enhances the feeling of warmth and tenderness.

In Ruta Jusionyte’s universe, family is never a fixed or uniform entity: each individual retains their uniqueness while remaining part of the group. Critics have often noted the artist’s preference for primary emotion and kindness, moving away from traditional conventions to create playful and affectionate scenes. Here, the rabbits form a protective clan that seems to be waiting for someone to take the picture.

A subtle touch of humour emerges: could this be the contemporary version of a family portrait?

Ruta Jusionyte has developed a body of work that is instantly recognizable, at the crossroads of Neo-Expressionism and Magical Realism. Born in 1978 in Lithuania, she lives and works in France and has established herself as a significant figure on the contemporary European art scene.

Her work explores the relationships between humans and animals, in compositions where figures intertwine, respond to one another, and protect each other. Horses, hares, elephants, and hybrid creatures embody inner forces, between instinct and consciousness. Through a warm palette and dense materiality, she develops a powerful pictorial language, both accessible and deeply symbolic.

Awarded the Académie des Beaux-Arts Prize in 2019, Ruta Jusionyte is now sought after by collectors drawn to a form of painting where emotion and visual intensity converge.