Born in Košice, Slovakia, Darina immigrated to Canada in 1980 with her husband, two young children, and two suitcases. Though art had always been part of her life, it was set aside while she built a new life in a new country. She returned to painting in 1995 after her children left for university and has since devoted herself fully to her craft.

A perpetual learner, Darina continues to expand her skills through her extensive art library and workshops with leading contemporary painters across North America, including in New York, Arizona, Texas, Montreal, and Wyoming. She believes that growth as an artist never stops.

Darina has exhibited widely in group and juried shows with Arteast, Art Network Ottawa, the Federation of Canadian Artists, and Oil Painters of America, earning numerous awards. Her largest solo exhibition, curated by the Slovak Embassy in Ottawa, featured 56 paintings.

Her works reside in private and corporate collections throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and Israel. In addition to her artistic achievements, she holds a master’s degree in psychology.

Working primarily in oils, Darina paints a wide range of subjects. For her, painting is both joy and refuge—an oasis of calm and a way to nourish the soul amid the world’s chaos.

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Darina joined Art in the Neighbourhood in 2023.​

Prices range from $350 to $950