Janina Monkute - Marks

Janina Monkute-Marks was born in Radviliškis, in Lithuania.

In Pagegiai, she completed Primary and Secondary School. She continued her studies in the High School, in Kėdainiai. In 1941 Janina Marks entered the drama studio in Kaunas Drama Theatre. While studying there she graduated from The Fifth High School in Kaunas.

In the autumn of 1944, because of the war, Janina relocated to Germany. From 1945 to 1947, she studied archaeology, art history and languages at Innsbruck University (Austria).

From 1947 to 1950, she attended École des Arts et Métiers in Freiburg (Germany). There she developed her skills in the visual arts. She studied textile arts with professor Antanas & Mrs. Anastazija Tamošaitis, painting – with Vytautas Kasiulis and Vytautas Kazimieras Jonynas, and graphics – with Viktoras Petravičius.

In 1950 Janina Marks immigrated to USA where she continued her artistic studies in Chicago. She studied and worked with artists, such as Don Baum, Claude Bentley, Harry Bouros, Harold Haydon and Viktoras Petravičius. She was closely associated with the Hyde Park Art Center and the B.I.G. Arts Center on Sanibel Island (Florida). Starting in 1972, Janina Marks organized the popular “Annual Members Exhibition” at the Hyde Park Art Center in Chicago. In 1974, Janina was one of the leaders of the Lithuanian Woman Artists Association in Chicago.

Her works have been exhibited in the Chicago Art Institute, The North Shore Art League (Winnetka, Illinois), Dunes Art Foundation (Michigan City, Indiana), Sun Times Gallery (Chicago, Illinois), and Old Water Tower Place (Chicago, Illinois) among others. She has had more than twenty one-person shows. Janina Marks continually took part in the exhibitions at Lithuanian Art Centers, such as the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, Čiurlionis Gallery, and Lithuanian Art Museum in Lemont.

As Danas Lapkus, renowned art critic, stated, “… in addition to her exhibitions in the museums and art galleries, Janina Marks also took part in various art fairs. Besides, she organized her own exhibitions in different schools and libraries. Such democratic approach reflects both artistic and life philosophy of Janina Marks – to share the beauty of art with everybody”.