The painting of Irene Polanec represents a specialty both in Slovenia and in Europe, so it is no coincidence that she was included in the book Femmes Artistes d’hier a aujourd’hui, which includes female painters who, according to French art critics, will leave a mark in the history of fine art . Her paintings represent a synthesis of modernism and elements of tradition. Her established motifs are portraits of idealized female faces, on a dark or golden background. The female figures, with the original name “EVA”, are enriched with golden accents, with red or green apples, shells, grasses, flowers and other decorations attached to their hair, which further emphasize femininity, seduction, dreams and longing. She had several high-profile hits in Slovenia and around the world, and in 1997 she was chosen as Slovene of the Year.