I paint to navigate the contradictions of existence—emptiness and desire, tenderness and loss. Each work is a mirror, not an answer; a space for doubt, longing, and contemplation.Valdrin Thaqi
Valdrin Thaqi (b. 1994, Skënderaj, Kosovo) is a visual artist whose practice spans painting and installation, engaging with themes of emptiness, melancholy, and desolation to reflect on the human condition. A graduate of the Academy of Arts in Prishtina, Thaqi constructs atmospheric and deeply psychological works where human figures often inhabit suspended, dreamlike spaces. His approach fuses realistic observation with subtle fictional distortions, creating images that hover between verisimilitude and reverie.
Recurring motifs—such as a dog with its head veiled or the presence of untamed horses—function as emotional anchors and symbolic archetypes. The dog, drawn from childhood memories of stray dogs being euthanized in Kosovo, becomes an emblem of repressed love and collective denial, while the horse embodies untamed energy and the complex dynamics of human relationships, as seen in Memory of the World, a poignant reflection on his bond with his mother.
Thaqi’s works are marked by a controlled yet intuitive use of color, with soft-edged planes of violet, mauve, and umber dissolving into one another through smoky brushstrokes. Figures often appear blurred and unreadable, like half-faded memories, while negative space plays an equally active role in shaping meaning. He describes his process as “controlled accidents,” allowing color, gesture, and absence to dictate form. Though sometimes associated with elements of magical realism, Thaqi insists his practice remains grounded in reality: he works from real models and settings, subtly infusing them with fictional elements that blur the boundary between lived experience and imagined narrative.
In recent years, Thaqi has shown widely across Europe. He participated in Manifesta 14 (Prishtina, 2022), and has presented solo projects at Bazament Art Space (Tirana, 2022) and LambdaLambdaLambda Gallery (Prishtina, 2021). His works have been featured in notable institutional contexts and are increasingly sought after by private collections across Europe. Dividing his time between Prishtina and Berlin, Thaqi maintains a contemplative and disciplined studio practice, producing works that invite viewers into a meditative space where reality and imagination dissolve into one another.