Boxed In: Unraveling the Invisible Barriers of the Mind Through Surrealist Art with Dragan Strukelj

Feb 16, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Mar 15

Through evocative oil and acrylic works, contemporary artist Dragan blends symbolism, psychological depth, and dreamlike imagery to explore themes of entrapment, transformation, and the search for freedom. His series Boxed In becomes a visual study of the human condition, inviting viewers to confront their emotional landscapes and question the invisible boundaries that shape their sense of self. His work moves through past trauma, present identity, and the futures we try to build, while examining the forces that shape our reality.

Drawing on his journey from Bosnia to New York and his connection to cultural trauma, Dragan creates a fusion of raw emotion, symbolism, and abstraction that invites universal reflection. His paintings speak to the psychological barriers we all face and ask us to consider what holds us back. Selfless Art Gallery invited Dragan to write a personal letter to the future collector of this series. Here is what he wrote:

Untitled, 2024, 121.92(h) x 91.44 cm(w), Oil On Canvas

Dear Collector,

I invite you to explore your own inner world through my latest series, Boxed In, an ode to my ongoing search for liberation and the hope within it. These works reflect the relationship between our present selves and our past, as well as the continual quest for self‑discovery as ever‑evolving beings. I question the human condition by asking, “What is keeping you boxed in?” and examine how feelings of entrapment or limitation shape the universal pursuit of freedom.

Through dreamlike oil and acrylic paintings, I capture emotional states and moments of introspection. We are often defined by our stories, mine shaped by cultural trauma, yet these works move beyond that and draw on the healing of both body and soul. Much of my art is guided by intuition and lived experience, from growing up in Bosnia to my life in New York. I weave in stories from family histories and from subjects, whether friends or supporters, who find themselves in distress or stagnation.

You may see figures inside a washing machine, for example, symbolizing in a humorous way how life can spiral and how discomfort can be met with humor. Some subjects are only partly visible, making it hard to identify them. This is intentional. I want viewers to see themselves in the work and reflect on the psychological and emotional depths within each piece. The meaning shifts from person to person. There is no right or wrong. Many feel discomfort when looking inward, recognizing the isolation that comes with introspection, which is why the boxed‑in, domestic settings appear throughout the series.

Sincerely,

Dragan Strukelj

Creator

Top to Bottom: Boy with a Water Gun, 2024, 121.92 (h) x 91.44 (w) cm, Oil On Canvas; Claustrophobia, 2024, 91.44(h) x 121.92 (w) cm, Oil On Canvas; Penumbra,2024, 50.8 (h)x 40.64 (w) cm, Oil On Canvas

As you dive into the Boxed In series, immerse yourself in a world where art transcends the surface to uncover the complexities of the human experience. This series pushes the boundaries of traditional surrealist art, blending emotion, symbolism, and vivid storytelling to offer a raw exploration of identity, constraint, and transformation. Dragan’s work encourages reflection on the invisible forces that shape our lives and challenges the constraints we unknowingly place on ourselves. Step into this captivating visual journey, where each painting holds the key to unlocking new layers of understanding and introspection.