Merima Smajlovic is a contemporary multidisciplinary artist whose work explores identity, migration, cultural heritage, language, and the psychology of the feminine experience. Born in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and shaped by post-war life and multiple migrations, she uses art as a transformative space for dialogue, healing, and reconnection across cultural, ideological, and geographical divides.
Her practice spans painting, mixed media, installation, performance, and multisensory environments, blending abstract forms, symbolic language, sound, scent, and physical presence to create immersive experiences that invite the viewer into introspection and embodied participation.
She earned her degree from the Academy of Fine Arts at the University of Sarajevo and has been a member of ULUPUBiH – the Association of Applied Artists and Designers of Bosnia and Herzegovina – since 2007.
Since relocating to the United States in 2019, Smajlović has fully committed to her professional art career. She has exhibited nationally, including at ArtPrize, 106 Gallery, LowellArts, and DeVos Place Convention Center, and regularly collaborates with AllArtWorks. Her works have been recognized for their bold use of contrast, ritualistic symbolism, and deeply personal narratives rooted in migration and feminine resilience.
In 2024, she received an Honorable Mention at the 38th Annual West Michigan Art Competition and a Special Recognition — Excellent Use of Color for Urban Poetry at the U-Create Exhibition, LowellArts Gallery (2025). She was also a finalist for Pitch Night Motu Viget with the collaborative project Dialogue of Souls / Voices in Color. The project, created in collaboration with artist Mary Jane Pories, was selected for inclusion in LowellArts’ 2026 Exhibition Program and will be on view from May to July 2026.
In addition to exhibitions, Smajlović contributes to the art community through guest talks, workshops, and mentorship focused on abstract, contemporary, and experiential art practices.
Professional memberships:
ULUPUBiH – Association of Applied Artists and Designers of Bosnia and Herzegovina (since 2007)
Ludington Area Center for the Arts (since 2023)
Women’s City Club of Grand Rapids (since 2024)
LowellArts (since 2025)
Ludington Area Center for the Arts (since 2023)
Women’s City Club of Grand Rapids (since 2024)
LowellArts (since 2025)
Website & social media:
🌐 www.merimasmajlovic.com
📸 Instagram | 📘 Facebook | 🔗 LinkedIn
🌐 www.merimasmajlovic.com
📸 Instagram | 📘 Facebook | 🔗 LinkedIn
For selected exhibitions, awards, and workshops, see her full Curriculum Vitae.
