Zuzana Pustaiová (born 1990 in Levice, Slovakia) started her interest in visual arts with painting but soon switched to photography, which she studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bratislava, Slovakia, and University of Applied Sciences in Bielefeld, Germany. In January 2022, she completed her doctoral degree in arts.
In her artworks, Pustaiová explores role-playing in contemporary society as a principal element that forms the relationships between family members, relatives, friends, or other diverse social groups. With a sense of wit, she uncovers the cultural stereotypes related to gender, age, tradition, and social inclusion. More recently, she started to explore nuclear energy production as a global phenomenon related to local politics and the overall picture of nuclear in media. 
Zuzana Pustaiová has received numerous awards in contemporary photography (nomination C/O Berlin Talent Award 2024, 3rd prize LensCulture Art Photography Award 2023, finalist at Grand Prix and Book Award Images Vevey 2023/2024, Grand Prix at the Rovinj Photodays 2021, finalist at the Images Vevey 2021/2022, finalist at the Grand Prix Bialystok Interphoto 2021, 1st Prize at the Rovinj Photodays 2018, recipient of the scholarship at the Eva Kahan Foundation in San Sano, Italy, 2024, etc.), and in 2018 she was named Photographer of the Year in Slovakia. She has exhibited internationally in Europe and Canada. Her first art book, titled One Day Every Day (2022), was shortlisted for Paris Photo Aperture Photobook Awards 2022 and Discovery Award 2025 Louis Roeder Foundation, Arles.
Pustaiová is a member of the Reflektor – platform for self-published photobooks in Austria and the Association of Slovak Professional Photographers in Slovakia. She works as a freelance photographer, lecturer, educator and editor-in-chief of Fotonoviny – Newspaper for photography.
She lives and works in Levice and Bratislava. 

There is Something Wrong in This World

„There is Something Wrong in This World” (since 2023) is a project that deals with the emotions, psychological fragility, and the pervasive chaos that characterizes our contemporary society. At its core, this endeavor employs the medium of flower still lifes to convey a narrative.

Within the context of the contemporary world, where rapid advancements in technology, social unrest, and shifting societal values constantly reshape our existence, the fragility of our emotions is both amplified and overlooked. There is Something Wrong in This World seeks to confront this dichotomy head-on, shedding light on the nuanced complexities that often go unnoticed amidst the chaos. Through eclectic attention to detail and composition, the project captures the ephemerality of emotions and the transient nature of human existence. Each carefully arranged still life photograph becomes a window into the ever-changing emotional landscape of our times.
Moreover, the juxtaposition of vibrant blooms with subtle decay within the still lifes serves as a reminder that emotional fragility does not equate to weakness. Instead, it celebrates the resilience and transformative potential inherent within our emotional vulnerabilities. By embracing our fragility, we tap into the wellspring of our inner strength and cultivate a deeper understanding of ourselves and others.

Heaven on Earth

In the summer of 1831, Archduke Franz Karl and Archduchess Sophie brought their young son, Franz Joseph, to Bad Ischl, where he celebrated his first birthday – a tradition that continued for more than 80 years. Franz Joseph referred to his summers as the „heavenly abode in Ischl.“ To this day, the emperor’s birthday is celebrated in Bad Ischl on August 18th with a grand ceremony.

While in the past, visitors came to witness and pay hommage to their monarch during these celebrations, nowadays, many visitors come to Ischl with the urge to capture every moment in the memory of their phones. Many visitors frantically record videos of the arrival of the „emperor and empress,“ while others strive to secure the best position for a photograph at any cost. The absurdity of the situation is accentuated by scenes where you can see only mobile phones above the heads of the visitors. A striking image of the current „heavenly stay“ in Ischl.The project incorporates typical colors of the Habsburg monarchy, such as yellow, black, red, gold as a symbol of luxury, as well as blue and green, the typical colors of uniforms and traditional men’s clothing.

©2023