Gabija Grusaite is a Lithuanian writer who lives between London, Monte Argentario, and Pervalka. She studied media and anthropology in London and spent seven years in Malaysia, where she founded the independent art space Hin Bus Depot. Grusaite has published three novels: Neissipildymas (2010, 2020), Stasys Saltoka: vieneri metai (2017, 2024), and Grybo sapnas (2023). Additionally, she authored her first children’s book, Grozis ir Heizelis.
Her second novel, Stasys Saltoka: vieneri metai, was translated into English as Cold East (2018, 2019) and Ukrainian (Крижаний схід… Один рік із життя Стасіса Шалтока, 2022), earning the Jurga Ivanauskaite literary award, the Penang Monthly literary prize, and a nomination for Lithuanian Book of the Year. The book also made it into the top 12 most creative books selected by the Lithuanian Institute of Literature and Folklore.
In addition to her literary accomplishments, Grusaite is also immersed in visual and performance art. Her widely acclaimed audiovisual performance Date with an Octopus serves as an expansion of the world she crafted in her novel Grybo sapnas, blending her literary imagination with a powerful visual narrative. This performance, much like her writing, delves into complex themes of identity and internal conflict, further showcasing her ability to transcend traditional artistic boundaries.
