Lucija Tijunelis was born in Lithuania in 1916 to the J. Viliunas Family. Her youth was filled with impressions of the natural beauty of country life and admiration of her mother’s acclaimed skill in creative weaving.
Lucija went to a ladies finishing academy where she excelled in art.
After marriage and two children, World War II dangers changed her life. The young family moved from the homeland through Europe and finally arrived in America. In 1949 she was a Displaced Person in Chicago; but five years later she was a proud citizen.
Memories and hardships of life have spilled their emotional balm into her created art.
Most people use paints or threads to paint with; she takes dried flora and glues landscapes, people, moods and fantasies into the art displayed. Seemingly simple media takes volumes of time to collect and find again when creative juices demand certain shapes and colors.
Lucija Tijunelis is a naturally shy person who tries to hide behind her simple upbringing, poor hearing, old age…but given a good communicator she rises to the occasion and displays her loveliness like a moon flower.
She calls her art recycled plants.