Born in 1955, graduated from the Stepas Žukas Applied Arts Technical School in Kaunas in 1978, where she obtained a degree in artistic decoration. In 1984, she graduated from the Lithuanian State Art Institute (now Vilnius Academy of Arts) with a degree in stage design (under the supervision of Regina Songailaitė-Balčikonienė). Since 1984 she has been working as a painter at the Vilnius theatre "Lėlė", and in addition to performances, she also designs the theatre's advertisements and publications.
Paukštienė has directed plays, designed sets for plays at Vilnius Lėlė Theatre, Lithuanian State Drama Theatre, Panevėžys Puppet Carriage Theatre, Kaunas State Puppet Theatre, Lithuanian Television, and the National Martynas Mažvydas Library Theatre "Berniukas Žirniukas". She has illustrated books, created posters and paper sculpture installations. Since 2004 she has been a member of the Lithuanian National UNIMA Centre.
Awards / recognitions:
2016 Lithuanian Government Culture and Art Prize;
2012 Dalia Tamulevičiūtė Professional Theatre Festival Prize ("For Unexpected Interpretation of a Children's Performance") for the performance "Mushroom War" (Vilnius Lėlė Theatre);
2011 theatre festival "vaidiname zemdirbiams" (Rokiškis) award for the performance "Grybų karas" (Vilnius theatre "Lėlė");
2009 Jury Honour and Polunima (Polish Puppeteers' Union) diplomas for the performance "White Fairy Tales" (Vilnius Puppet Theatre) at the international festival "Kon-teksti" in Poznań (Poland);
2007 Golden Stage Cross for masks, puppets and set design in the play "Doctor Dolitlis" (Vilnius Puppet Theatre);
2006 - 1st prize in the International Theatre Poster Competition (organised by the Lithuanian Artists' Union and the Lithuanian State Drama Theatre) for the poster for the Festival of Marionette Theatres commemorating the 100th anniversary of Stasys Ušinskas' birth;
2000 award at the theatre festival "Vaidiname zemdirbiams" (Rokiškis) for the play "Trys parššiukai" (Vilnius theatre "Lėlė").
