The artist was born in 1930. June 2 Nainiškiu village, Panevėžys district. Later, he and his family settled in Miežiškii, where he graduated from elementary school. Drawing, as she claims, was in her nature – early on, Birutė felt the power of imagination to create the world as she liked it.
Rainbows and sunsets led to the decision to paint in contrasting, bright colors. Even then, the first teachers drew attention to the little artist’s drawings, so they constantly “hired” her to draw the school’s wall newspaper, various greetings and decorations. In 1939, together with other students of her school, she visited the regained Vilnius for the first time.
In 1942, she entered the Panevėžys girls’ high school. The war years passed in Panevėžys. In 1947, after finishing the sixth grade, she got a job as a linotypist in the printing office of the newspaper “Voice of Panevėžio” – she collected letters for the newspaper. He also studied at Panevėžys adult gymnasium. However, her biggest dream was studying art in Vilnius.
In 1949, she entered the Vilnius Art Institute, majoring in graphics. Here B. Žilyte was taught by Irena Žebenkienė, Kazys Morkūnas, Petras Aleksandravičius, Jonas Kuzminskis, Antanas Kučas, Bronius Uogintas, Augustinas Savickas, Vladas Drėma and many others. She finished her studies in 1956 after defending her diploma thesis – a cycle of four-part etchings “At the Curonian Lagoon”.
In 1954, the artist began collaborating in the children’s magazine “Genys”, for which she regularly drew illustrations for ten years. At the same time, together with her husband, the artist Algirdas Steponavičius, she debuted as a book illustrator – their first joint work was the element book “ABC” by Vanda Jurgutienė and Liudvika Tomkytė. Over the course of three decades, together with her husband, she illustrated a dozen books.
Among the most famous books illustrated by B. Žilytė are K. Jakubėna’s “Abėcėlė” (1958), Petros Cvirka’s “Rainiukai” (1962), Mykolas Sluckis’ “The Grateful Duck” (1964 and 1967, together with her husband), Aldona Liobytė’s “The Tale of the Brave Vilnius the girl and the murderer Greenbeard (1970 and 2007), Kosto Kubilinsk’s “Standing fairy-tale house” (1974 and 1985) and “Eglė žalčių karalienė” by Salomeja Nėris (in Russian, 1989, in Lithuanian – 2007).
Irmantos Gelūnos/BNS photo/Birutė Žylytė
The artist herself has said that she used to choose such books to illustrate, which were life-like, not sweet or primitive. That is why her drawings stood out not only for their contrasting colors, but also for their surrealistic or magical plots, where you could also find scary witches, severed pig heads, blue horses, flying fish or red rivers.
According to the art researcher Agnė Narušytė, “the bursting shapes and contradictory colors in B. Žilytė’s paintings sometimes make the eyes dazzle. It’s an influence of post-art and Op art that would be unacceptable for Soviet painting, but suited the less censored graphics.” By the way, in her works you can also find Eglė the Queen of Serpents, reminiscent of the Virgin Mary depicted in folk sculpture, or the pillars of Gediminači painted on the shield of Vytautas the Great.
One of the most impressive works created by B. Žilytė together with her husband A. Steponavičius is a 110 square meter wall painting in the long corridor of Valkininkai Children’s Sanatorium “Pušelė”. This cycle of 12 works was created for three years (1969-1972).
Irmantos Gelūnos/BNS photo/Birutė Žylytė
For her drawings, graphic engravings, lithographs, etchings, wall paintings and illustrations for books, the artist received several honorable awards. In 1997, she was awarded the state award – the Grand Cross of the Knight of the Order of Duke Gediminas of Lithuania. In 2015, B. Žilyte was awarded the Lithuanian National Culture and Art Prize “for art and creativity fostering high modern culture for children”. in 2010 the artist organized her personal exhibition at the National Art Gallery.
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**Interview with Birutė Žylytė: A Journey Through Imagination and Color**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Birutė. Your life and work have truly contributed to the vibrant tapestry of Lithuanian art. Can you share with us what sparked your early interest in drawing?
**Birutė Žylytė:** Thank you for having me! Drawing has always been a natural part of my being. Even as a child in Nainiškiu village, I felt a deep sense of imagination to create my surroundings the way I wanted. I vividly remember my teachers recognizing my talent; they would often enlist me to contribute to the school’s wall newspaper.
**Interviewer:** That’s fascinating! It seems like your colorful surroundings had a significant influence on your artistic choices. How did experiences like seeing rainbows and sunsets shape your artistic style?
**Birutė Žylytė:** Indeed, nature has played a crucial role in my artwork. The bright, contrasting colors of sunsets and the vibrancy of rainbows inspired me to paint in a way that captures that essence. I wanted to translate those feelings into my illustrations, even from a young age.
**Interviewer:** Your artistic education at the Vilnius Art Institute must have been influential. Can you tell us about your experience there and the impact of your mentors?
**Birutė Žylytė:** Oh, absolutely! The institute was a transformative period for me. I was fortunate to learn from many great artists, including Irena Žebenkienė and Kazys Morkūnas. They encouraged us to experiment with different styles and ideas, which helped shape my own voice in graphics.
**Interviewer:** You’ve illustrated many beloved books throughout your career. What did you look for in the stories you chose to bring to life through your art?
**Birutė Žylytė:** I preferred stories that were genuine and reflective of real-life experiences rather than simplistic or overly sweet tales. I aimed for my illustrations to have depth; that’s why you’ll often find contrasting colors and whimsical, magical elements in my work.
**Interviewer:** Your works often push boundaries with their surrealistic qualities and dynamic colors. What do you think about the artistic environment in Lithuania during and after the Soviet era?
**Birutė Žylytė:** The Soviet period was challenging for artists. However, I found ways to express myself through less censored formats, especially in graphics. There was a unique blending of tradition and modern influences, where I could explore concepts that would have been too bold for traditional painting.
**Interviewer:** One of your notable achievements includes the large wall painting at the Valkininkai Children’s Sanatorium. What was that project like, and how did it feel to create such an expansive work?
**Birutė Žylytė:** That project was a labor of love! Working on a 110 square meter mural alongside my husband, Algirdas Steponavičius, was incredibly rewarding. We aimed to create a nurturing environment for the children, using colors and images that would inspire joy and imagination. It took three years, but seeing the children interact with the art made it all worth it.
**Interviewer:** Your journey is truly inspiring, and your ability to resonate with children through your art is remarkable. What message do you hope your art conveys to future generations?
**Birutė Žylytė:** My hope is that my art encourages children to embrace their imagination and see the beauty in the world around them. I believe that creativity is a vital part of life, and I want young people to know that they can express themselves freely through art.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Birutė, for sharing your insights and experiences with us. Your contributions to art are indeed a gift to many!
**Birutė Žylytė:** Thank you for having me! It’s been a pleasure to reflect on my journey and share my passion for art.
