Argenita Fetahu Zukaj is a painter and muralist, born in Gjakova, Kosovo, in 1993, and working today from Lucerne, Switzerland.
She was admitted to the Academy of Figurative Arts in Prishtina in 2012, completed her Bachelor’s degree in 2016, and went on to a Master’s in Painting under the mentorship of Professor Zake Prelvukaj, both with high distinction.
Alongside canvas painting she is widely recognised for her murals, which can be found in cafés, shops, hotels and private homes, bringing art closer to everyday life. Her practice spans painting, drawing, illustration and mural art, combining traditional approaches with contemporary ones. In 2014 she published an illustrated book, The Stars Are Sparkling (Yjet po ndriçojnë).
Her work has been shown in Egypt, India, Norway, Mexico, the United States, England, France, Italy and Switzerland. She was selected twice for the London Art Biennale, in July 2021 and July 2025. Internationally, her ARGENITASE project brought wider recognition, leading to invitations to exhibitions and jury panels in India and Bangladesh. Most recently her name appeared on one of the giant screens at Times Square, New York, among one hundred selected women artists from around the world.
In her own words
Artist statement
My work explores the relationship between inner experience and the surrounding environment. Through figurative and semi-abstract compositions, I translate memory, presence, and emotional depth into visual form. Each painting begins from a lived moment, where thought becomes structure and movement in space reflects my curiosity toward different places and the energy they carry.
Colour functions as an emotional anchor within my work. Warm and cool tones create balance, offering a sense of rhythm, depth, and continuity. These choices mirror my personal journey and allow each piece to hold both intimacy and openness.
The female figure appears frequently, drawn from myself, my mother, and women from my homeland. Through them, I explore identity, resilience, and the quiet strength found in everyday life. The recurring red dress, inherited from my mother, serves as a symbol of tradition, memory, and the passage of stories from one generation to another.
I paint intuitively, guided by emotion and lived experience. My work gives form to what is often felt but not spoken, inviting viewers to enter a space where personal reflection and visual expression meet.
Practice
Three strands of work
Painting
Over twenty years at the canvas, working across themes and styles and using a range of techniques to carry a spectrum of emotion and concept.
Illustration
Illustrations for books and other publications across a seventeen-year career, including her own illustrated book, narrating stories and concepts visually.
Mural and art direction
Twelve years leading creative projects, organising teams and managing commissions from concept and technique through to the finished wall.
Commissions
Murals and public work
| Years | Commission | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025 | Valbona Resort and Spa | Valbona, Albania |
| 2024 | Municipality of Prishtina, "Festo me zemër, jo me armë" | Prishtina, Kosovo |
| 2019-2023 | Swiss Diamond Hotel, spa and wellness areas | Prishtina, Kosovo |
| 2019-2021 | MABETEX Holding, Diamond Residence | Hajvalia, Kosovo |
| 2020 | YMCA and U.S. Embassy, "Youth builds bridges" | Junik, Gjakovë, Pejë |
| 2018 | Medica Gjakova, awareness murals for survivors of wartime sexual violence | Kosovo |
| 2018 | Garden Hotel, live painting during Sunday Brunch | Prishtina, Kosovo |
| 2016 | FemArt and Artpolis, illustrations for human rights campaign banners | Prishtina, Kosovo |
Beyond the studio
Juries, talks and publishing
| Year | Role | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Brand ambassador and country representative for Kosovo | India |
| 2021 | Jury member, International Art Exhibition (Bindaas Artist Group, IOMAC) | India and Bangladesh |
| 2021 | Invited speaker, international virtual museums conference | Pakistan |
| 2021 | Narrator, "Sleepless Nights", Art Therapy Week | Prishtina, Kosovo |
| 2014 | Author and illustrator, "The Stars Are Sparkling" (Yjet po ndriçojnë) | Prishtina, Kosovo |
Education
University of Prishtina
| Years | Qualification | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| 2016-2017 | Master's degree in Visual Arts, specialisation in Painting | University of Prishtina |
| 2013-2016 | Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, Department of Painting | University of Prishtina |
Languages: Albanian (mother tongue), English (C1 listening and reading, B2 speaking and writing).