Kriste Stankeviciute moves between the worlds of fashion and art with quiet precision. Known online as @feedyourfashionanimal, she started one of Lithuania’s first style blogs in 2009. Today, her work spans fashion influence, linear drawings, and oil paintings – each marked by a clean, deliberate sense of form.
“I would say that my mother sparked my interest in fashion. Or to be more precise, it was one exact moment with her. I was in 5th grade, it was a cold winter morning, and we were standing next to my closet, getting ready to go to school, and my mum was putting on an outfit for me to wear as per usual, but this time I said, “No, I don’t want to wear pants again. I want to wear a miniskirt.” Of course, she wouldn’t let me wear it, but we made a compromise, and I wore a short skirt over jeans. This was my first bold move towards putting my own look together independently, and I've been absolutely loving it ever since. Kids at school noticed me straight away, it was like a statement of a young, brave, and creative woman to be seen and accepted like one.”
“I would say that “playing it safe” or “wear what others are wearing” aesthetics are still dominant in Lithuania and other Baltic states. Outdated and comfy still takes priority over anything personal, eclectic, bold, creative, provocative, innovative.”
“I really enjoy the work of Marlene Dumas, Egon Schiele, Rae Klein, Louise Bonnet, Tom Harker, Xie Lei.”
“I spend too much on social media! I’ve been truly obsessed with Instagram since day 1, and it’s the number one app for me to find inspiration, meet fellow creatives and fashion geeks, and share my looks and artworks with the rest of the world. It’s the best!”
“You can often see the continuation between my newest artworks and my latest outfits. Most of the time, one inspires the other and makes the story come together because of the colors, textures, shapes, or even themes they share.”
“Actually, I´m not very personal and open on social media. I cherish my personal life and my peace way too much to make money or get attention out of it, but this is what people want when they come on socials. To compensate, I’m trying to be very consistent and active with posting my looks, trying to show off outfits for my followers to be inspired and informed of what I’m wearing and how they can style something similar while vintage/second-hand shopping. I see Instagram as a cool place to escape reality by following unique people, seeing their authentic views of the world, it doesn’t have to be your documented day to day life, it doesn’t have to be reality at all. I view IG as it was at the very beginning – a space to express your creativity and build your unique community. That’s how I view other people and accounts and I don’t get caught up in this (often) fake reality people try to sell there. It’s just not real.”
“A challenge I occasionally face mixing fashion and art: putting on a very cool outfit I know I’m going to shoot later that day and coming to the studio to paint. I always, always, always end up messing it up and getting covered in paint. So annoying!”
“When I don’t do commissioned or commercial artwork, I love to build and grow little ideas I have in my head while in the process of painting. I don’t do a lot of detailed sketches beforehand, only while painting, when I have an urge to test some new techniques. Most of my artworks are made out of different symbols like codes that operate independently, and my work there is to build a solid story out of them. So yes, I like to create right here and now.”
“I started as a more commercial artist when I was young, and now, I’m doing my best to escape that label. As I get older and travel more, my understanding of the world has become more mature and open, and my artworks are way more complicated and advanced now, for sure.”
“One of my recent favorite projects is a collab with a Lithuanian silk brand Alas where I got to create a painting of my imagined secret garden, which will be used to make silk scarves, embroidery, pins, and more. It will be sold online and within the US. I’m obsessed with magical and mythical themes, so I feel so grateful to work on this project with such an amazing team.”
“Cliché, but true: find your own creative voice, work hard to maintain and embrace it, own it, be bold, patient, brave, and have fun along the way.”
“If I were going to a lonely island, I would try to take my whole bed or at least a comfy mattress with me, because I can’t function without a good amount of quality sleep. Pictures and letters of my family/friends/lovers, my oil pastels because I can’t finish an artwork without using them… any other materials I would find or make there on the spot. And loads of sunscreen, because I’m a skin phototype 0. And books, of course!”
“Going to fashion week with only a backpack? That has actually happened many times to me, so that's easy: my look is almost never complete without a blazer, so I put like three of them on myself, one I take in my hands, a skirt over pants and then leave space for several mini bags (that will be filled with jewelry). Shoes and hats/scarves and make-up will fit in the backpack.”
“I always feel more drawn to paintings or sculptures over photographs, installations, performances, etc. I love cubism a lot, I love impressionist paintings and 19th century sculptures, ethnic art, and works of young modern artists.”
“Style-wise, when I was younger, my inspiration came from my grandmother’s sister, who is still this classy and elegant lady with the craziest collection of jewelry. And all of those beautiful and extremely stylish street style stars that Tommy Ton photographed during fashion weeks for his Jak & Jil blog and style.com"
“When in Vilnius, do visit National art gallery to discover Lithuanian art and hopefully catch an opening of the new show. For aperitivo – grab a glass of natural wine and a mortadella + pistachio sandwich at Vistide, book a quality Lithuanian cuisine inspired dinner at Dziaugsmas restaurant and then go for an easy dance & a very good cocktail at Adata listening bar in the center of the hip Naujamiestis neighborhood. A dip at the Balzis lake, 25 minutes car drive away from the city center at midnight or in the morning after is mandatory, a beautiful forest drive is included!”
Interview by Anne VetikPhotography by Silver Mikiver