Art Has No Borders

One of the most prominent contemporary Croatian illustrators and authors, Andrea Petrlik Huseinović, created the visual identity for the international project Reading Knows No Borders / Čitanje ne poznaje granice, in which children read translated works by authors from a neighboring country. Slovenian primary school students often reach for her picture books, which rank among the top achievements of contemporary youth literature. In these books, visual and narrative elements together shape the reading experience.

Her stories frequently explore sensitive themes such as sorrow, loss, growing up, and the search for inner strength. She portrays these themes using pastel colors and soft transitions that create an atmosphere of safety and introspection. The symbolism in her illustrations allows for multilayered interpretation. Her works are often used by educators and other professionals for therapeutic purposes, as they enable children to express emotions that are difficult to articulate.

Upon her nomination for the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2018, the author wrote:

“I was created to breathe in the love I feel around me and to send that love back into the world through my images and words. I am happiest when a child or adult reads what I have written, sees what I have drawn, and feels that love — and then shares it with someone who will also share that love.”
Andrea Petrlik Huseinović

For the exhibition accompanying the professional gathering of coordinators and mentors participating in the project Reading Knows No Borders / Čitanje ne poznaje granice, Andrea Petrlik Huseinović selected twelve illustrations. The Karantanija Publishing House contributed a selection of her picture books published in Slovenian.

About the Author

Andrea Petrlik Huseinović is a renowned Croatian illustrator, writer, and visual artist. Her work is distinguished by an original approach, emotional poetics, and outstanding illustration, for which she has received numerous international and national awards.

Among the most notable are the Grigor Vitez Award (2002) for her authorial picture book Blue Sky, the Golden Medal of the BIB at the 19th Biennial of Illustrations in Bratislava (2003) for illustrations in Blue Sky and the children’s classic Alice in Wonderland, the Grand Prix OBI 04 at the Biennial of Illustrations in Japan (2004) for illustrations in her picture book Ciconia Ciconia, and the Kiklop Award (2012) for the same book. She has been nominated several times for the prestigious ALMA and Hans Christian Andersen Awards.

In 2023, the International Peace Center Sarajevo awarded her the Silver Tree Award for her outstanding contribution to humanism and the fight for human rights and freedom in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Europe, and the world.

In 2025, illustrations from her picture book Blue Sky will be featured in the exhibition Chihiro Iwasaki and Picture Book Artists from Around the World – Creating Peace through Picture Books, which will be held in Tokyo and Azumino to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Andrea Petrlik Huseinović is a member of the Croatian Association of Visual Artists, the Croatian Writers’ Association, and the Croatian Freelance Artists’ Association.