Vermont Public is independent, community-supported media, serving Vermont with trusted, relevant and essential information. We share stories that bring people together, from every corner of our region. New to Vermont Public? Start here.

© 2024 Vermont Public | 365 Troy Ave. Colchester, VT 05446

Public Files:
WVTI · WOXM · WVBA · WVNK · WVTQ · WVTX
WVPR · WRVT · WOXR · WNCH · WVPA
WVPS · WVXR · WETK · WVTB · WVER
WVER-FM · WVLR-FM · WBTN-FM

For assistance accessing our public files, please contact hello@vermontpublic.org or call 802-655-9451.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

VPR's coverage of arts and culture in the region.

Burlington Painter Creates Living, Breathing Art

Isaac Wasuck
Although Kadina Malicbegovic, left, studied more traditional forms of art in college, she found her passion in body painting. She performs throughout Vermont at a variety of different events, and volunteers her face painting at the UVM Medical Center.

Kadina Malicbegovic is a Burlington-based artist and performer who creates her art on a living, breathing canvas.

Malicbegovic joined VPR to talk about body painting, her goals as an artist and how she hopes body art will become an accepted art form in Vermont.

Although she studied more traditional forms of art in college, Malicbegovic has found her passion in body painting. “I figured [with my background], I could try actually painting on a human body,” she says.

Her inspiration for the art is often last minute, as she says she can’t really decide what to paint until she meets her canvas – the human being. “My art inspiration is usually affected by the energy of the person that I work with, or the shape or the figure. Body painting work is a constant collaboration,” she says.

She says often the goal of her art is to create positive energy, especially when she’s performing at festivals and events with The Human Canvas, her duo that pairs body painting with live music. “It is really amazing to watch colors coming together and the human body becoming a piece of art – a breathing, live art,” explains the artist. Malicbegovic says her subjects don’t necessarily have a say in what she paints, but that she can tell if someone “has a pink aura, or if someone shines yellow or orange.”

"It is really amazing to watch colors coming together and the human body becoming a piece of art. A breathing, live art." - Kadina Malicbegovic, artist

Along with performing throughout the state, Malicbegovic volunteers at the University of Vermont Medical Center, doing face painting for children with cancer. And she says as much as it is a difficult experience, it is worth it to see the kids being overwhelmed with happiness. "I cried in the parking lot because I was happy ... just to see their happy faces. So I knew I wanted to work with cancer patients,” she says.

Credit Kadina Malicbegovic
Malicbegovic paints mothers' stomachs for baby showers or portraits.

One day, a cancer patient in remission sent Malicbegovic an email proposing the idea of body painting as self-acceptance after the cancer. “It’s really good for me to experience that and be a part of that,” says the artist. “I think the process alone is empowering.”

Body painting is an ancient art form, but isn’t necessarily considered mainstream art in Vermont. “I hope that it’s going to get accepted in the art world and in general. In the beginning, when I first started doing it, in 2006, I was getting much more criticism than in the past four years. Big companies in Vermont have me paint at their parties and with the [cancer] patients, I feel like it’s getting more accepted.” She says.

Credit Kadina Malicbegovic
As she continues to create every day, Malicbegovic hopes Vermont will start to embrace body painting as an art form.

As she continues to create every day, Malicbegovic hopes Vermont will start to embrace what she does. “My goal as an artist and a body painter is to integrate art, mind and well-being … I hope for more people to join. We need a new form of art in liberating things,” she says.

Malicbegovic will be performing at the "Body Party" at ArtsRiot on April 15. Learn more about the artist on her website.

Mary Williams Engisch is a local host on All Things Considered.
Latest Stories