Emil Bekavac’s Croatian-American background has had a strong influence on his work. Growing up in a small town outside Pittsburgh during the decline of the U.S. steel industry, and hearing his grandparents tell stories about the conditions they fled in Eastern Europe, gave Emil a personal understanding of the effects of depression and oppression. These influences, combined with Emil’s spirituality, led him to his unique artistic style, which calms chaos with the healing flow of chi (energy, or life force). His paintings and sculptures express the soul’s desire to break free from oppression in all its forms. They stir consciousness into action and stimulate evolution toward a better world.