We were lucky to catch up with Branislava Dragovic recently and have shared our conversation below.

Branislava, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

My Creative Awakening

I still remember the day my father took me to the theater for the first time. The classic Brothers Grimm story, “Rumpelstiltskin”, was playing at the Belgrade Children’s Theatre. I was just three years old, but the magic of that performance has stayed with me forever.

My father, an engineer with a passion for theatre, had collaborated with the theater on various projects. After the shows, he would often take me backstage to meet the actors, explore the costumes, and witness the behind-the-scenes magic.

I was fascinated by this new reality and I felt an inexplicable connection to all of those unusual-looking people and their vibrant, bold and slightly scary personalities. Their creativity, passion and imagination sparked something within me.

One moment stands out in my mind. One day, I slipped out of my father’s sight and stumbled upon the colorful costume room. As a naturally curious child, I confidently entered and began exploring the racks of dresses, hats, accessories and makeup. Then, I decided to try them on. “Oh, look at me!” I remember being astonished by the person staring back at me in the mirror, transformed from just a child into a radiant character.

They also had puppets, and I adored them. The only problem was that I lost track of time, as hours seemed to disappear in the theater’s timeless bubble.

In the meantime, my father and the theater staff started a worried search for me. I’ll never forget my dad’s expression, a mix of joy and relief, when he saw me step out of the room.

After that incident, something lit up within me. I liked the idea that I could disappear from the world, but also find myself and create something. Something vibrant, bold, passionate and imaginative.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Welcome to my creative world!

I am Serbian immigrant, mother and multidisciplinary artist. I’ve always embraced diverse interests, allowing them to intersect, influence and enrich each other, rejecting the notion of a single creative path.

At 8 years of age, I discovered my love for acting and spent the next decade on the stage. After those years of acting, I decided to take a turn and explore literature, transitioning “from the stage to the page.” This new chapter in my creative journey coincided with another significant change: my decision to emigrate to the United States.

As an alien in a new country, it took me years to find my way and discover how to pursue my passions. The journey was fraught with challenges, and while navigating my new life, I discovered two new profound loves: motherhood and the art of felting. These unexpected passions brought new purpose and meaning to my life, and have forever changed my path. My passion for creating new things was re-born and I returned to my roots of self-expression. I resumed acting and began writing short scripts, and my felting sculptures gained recognition, with acceptance into various exhibitions.

In 2021, during the COVID pandemic, I dared to write a script for a short screenplay, “American Dream”, for which I was awarded Best First-Time Writer for a Short Script by Script Awards Los Angeles.

As an actor, my most treasured experience here in the U.S. was being part of multiple productions at Jeff Daniels’ Purple Rose Theatre in Chelsea, MI. I have also recently had the opportunity to do a commercial in Detroit for Ford as part of its national campaign. This year, I wrote, co-directed (with Sam Grima), and starred in a short film, “Felt”, produced by the Detroit-based production company, CineSnack.

As for my fiber art, I have had my work featured in several shows in Ann Arbor as well as Detroit (twice at St. Andrew’s Hall as part of RAWartists, an international arts organization). My work was recently part of an exhibition at the Gutman Gallery in Ann Arbor entitled “Emerge”, and also at the Detroit Month of Design 14th Annual Festival in September, entitled “ENVIRONMENT + MICROCLIMATES.” My newest pieces will also be part of an upcoming exhibition entitled “Common Thread” at the University of Michigan Health Gifts of Art Gallery (December 16, 2024 – February 28th, 2025).

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, art is an intimate journey of self-expression and connection. It allows me to bring ideas to life and share my vision with others. Emotional connection with my audience is also invaluable. If my art sparks your imagination or makes you crack a smile, I’ve done my job! The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is freedom to do what I love.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Moving to the U.S. resulted in my unexpected personal and creative rebirth. I seized the chance to redefine myself and eventually my art, embracing less traditional paths. My art is a quirky reflection of this pivot – a blend of Serbian roots, American humor, and a pinch of madness.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://branislavadragonart.format.com/
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/branislavadragon; www.instagram.com/branislava_dragovic; www.instagram.com/feltthefilm
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm16469154/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Image Credits

Stephanie Girard, Nikita Artinian, Sam Grima, Griffin Bergers