Tadas Sokolovas

b. 1986

Tadas Sokolovas is a contemporary pop artist renowned for his unique approach to portraying celebrated icons. Born and raised in Lithuania, Tadas began his career in film and television after completing his Studies in Arts, Multimedia and Design. He later expanded his expertise into technology and digital design sectors before his stand-out painting artistry was discovered. Tadas’ artistic style taps into humans’ primordial desire for balance between chaos and harmony, mess and elegance. He is best known for his depictions of legendary icons such as Marilyn Monroe, Donatella Versace, Freddie Mercury, and the Buddha. Using a touch of intelligent sarcasm, Tadas portrays these icons in a way that juxtaposes their legendary qualities with consumeristic modern pop-culture symbols. Tadas began his journey as an artist by adorning the walls of his own home during a renovation with vibrant, chromatic murals of iconic portraits depicting contemporary pop culture. By utilizing the universality of colour and an abstracted, layered elegance of symbols, he transforms icons, and celebrity portraits into their most theatrical and distinct representations of selves. Tadas is also recognized as the first artist to create the world’s first DNA-encrusted painting, showcasing his innovative approach to art. He has been an internationally-inclined artist and collaborator since the beginning of his career, having had residencies in Hong Kong and Istanbul.