Ksenija Baraga is an academic painter, designer and artist who has enriched the Slovenian art and design scene with her creativity and visionary approach for more than three decades. Born on September 21, 1960 in Ljubljana, she graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Ljubljana in 1986 with a degree in painting. Since then, she has been working as a self-employed person in culture, dedicating herself to unique and industrial textile design, illustration and exhibition design. Her work is characterized by a deep love of drawing, innovative design and dedication to preserving cultural heritage through contemporary interpretations.
Since 1985, she has been creating under her own brand, Baragaga, which is synonymous with the intertwining of art, tradition and modernity. Her knitwear is known for its thoughtfully chosen color tones, sophisticated patterns and exceptional attention to detail. Each product is the result of in-depth research, creative experimentation and respect for the material and the story it tells.
The Baragaga brand consists of three main knitwear ranges:
Developing original patterns: In this section, Ksenija explores color combinations, structures, and patterns that add dynamism and modernity to knitwear. Industrially designed knitwear is the result of her ability to combine artistic expression with the precision of modern technology.
Interpretation of Slovenian folk ornamentation: Ksenija often reinterprets Slovenian ethnographic heritage in her works. Traditional motifs such as Gorenjska carnations, bobbin lace and other ethnographic elements are given a fresh, modern look through her creative vision. These products are not only fashion pieces, but also bearers of cultural memory.
Authorial collaboration and tribute to great creators: Ksenija often collaborates with local artists such as Radovan Jenko, Silvester Plotajis Sicoe and her daughter Ana Baraga. She also pays tribute to great names in Slovenian art and design such as Jože Plečnik. Her JP150 collection, created on the 150th anniversary of Plečnik's birth, is a great example of the fusion of architectural heritage and knitwear.
Ksenija's creative process is a complex interweaving of artistic expression and technological precision. Drawing as the primary medium is transformed into knitted fabrics through digitization and the use of modern knitting machines. Each loop represents a single pixel, which Ksenija carefully places in a grid until a pattern is created, which the knitting machine translates into a soft, three-dimensional form.
When designing the JP150 collection, she was inspired by Plečnik's lesser-known graphic work. She transferred a drawing of the facade of the National and University Library in Ljubljana, an illustration for the book Architectura perennis, and various vignettes intended for book decoration onto knitwear. This process requires an extraordinary amount of patience and precision, as it is a mathematically and artistically demanding procedure. "The biggest challenge was to embody the drawing in the knitwear, to find drawings that made this possible, and to place them meaningfully in the composition," explains Ksenija.
Ksenija's work has been presented in numerous solo and group exhibitions at home and abroad.
Her works have also been presented in films such as "Slovenia through Art" (RTV Slovenia, 2009) and "Fly... Fly... Woman" (directed by Polona Sepa, 2003).
Ksenija Baraga is not only an artist and designer, but also an active member of the design community. Since 1998, she has been the president of the Unique Section of the Slovenian Designers' Association, where she strives to promote and develop unique design. Her work is marked by a commitment to preserving Slovenian cultural heritage and finding new ways to reinterpret it.
You can view and purchase her products under the Baragaga brand here .
