Gerda Satunas was born in Vilnius, Lithuania in 1983, growing up in a family of artists. Embracing an early understanding of form and a love of colour, she completed secondary education at The National M.K. Čiurlionis School of Art, Lithuania before embarking on further design studies in Lithuania, Paris and Amsterdam.
In 2011, Satunas relocated to London where she enrolled at the London College of Fashion (University of Arts, London). During her time there, she became involved in artistic projects for Madame Tussauds Museum and the Royal Opera House, London. She completed her BA (Hons) in Costume Design for Performance in 2014.
After gaining her qualifications, Satunas moved to Auckland, continuing her artistic journey in fashion. In 2016, she became a finalist in the International Emerging Designer Awards, Dunedin ID Fashion Week. In 2021, she moved to Dunedin where she discovered the beauty and texture of ceramics.
Journey into the Unknown is an exploration of ceramic forms reflecting Satunas’ journey from a life in Lithuania to an unimagined life in NZ. In an intimate journey of contrasts, mood and colour, she strives to find peace, the love of self and a path to achieving her dreams for the future.
Embracing the richness and culture of her European heritage, the heavy textures, luscious colours and bold use of gold lustres in Satunas’ early works show unmistakable references to the elaborate costumes she resourced for celebrities, exhibitions, film, and theatre during her time in London.
While these early works embody her pain at being so far from home, more recent works have a lighter feel, reflecting a healing. In these, she captures the lushness and colour of the native bush, waterways, and ocean – her regular sanctuaries. A delicate use of gold lustres hints at rays of light peeking through the bush and shimmering on the water.
Satunas’ most recent works reflect her dreams of one day living in Italy, a country of contrasts. A series of wall pieces references vine-covered ancient walls, with her sculptures offering a nod to the avant-garde.