Artist Bio & Insights
My artistic development started over 40 years ago in Poland, through the Commercial Art College and Sacred Art College (Christian Symbolism in Visual Arts). My few years of artistic activity in Poland included murals for public library and Catholic church, religious and decorative paintings for private homes, curating the local gallery and set designs/decorating of the commercial spaces.
In 1987, along with my young family – husband Krystian and nearly two-year-old daughter Agnieszka, I became a political refugee escaping from the regime of the Communism. At first, we resided and worked in Greece - where we went through the two years of legal, emigration process of being permitted to enter Canada in 1989.
In Canada, Ontario, I became a mother for a second time, giving birth to Natalie - another wonderful daughter. Very quickly, my husband started to work professionally as mechanical engineer and - while taking care of my family and learning English - I continued to create. Over the years, I had numerous group and solo exhibitions within galleries and cultural institutions of Ontario.
In 1993, due to my paintings and written reflections concerning the fate of children during wars and violent conflicts in the world, I was invited with the solo art show to the Polish Consulate in Toronto and to the Military Museum in Borden. I also received letter from the "Mothers for Peace" of Bosnia-Herzegovina – expressing their gratitude to me for promoting peace through my creativity and art shows.
During that time, I also wrote, co-produced and co-directed two faith inspired performances, based on a visual and performing arts. These performances involved multicultural artists and audiences including Kanyan actor – Ernest Quintal, Jamaican Gospel Choir – Voices of Praise, well known opera singer of Polish background – Kinga Mitrowska. It also received great support of General Consuls of Poland and of Jamaica.
I was featured as an artist in numerous newspapers, TV and radio stations.
Additionally, I wrote articles to Polish newspapers and magazines based in Toronto - about meaning of art and about Canadian visual and preforming artists of Polish background, with whom I collaborated as an artist - such as Wojciech Strahl (Droga - Wojciech strahl - YouTube), Leszek Wyczolkowski (Leszek Wyczolkowski Biography | kiplinggallery.com), Vitek Vincza (Artistic Director - HCA | Hamilton Conservatory For The Arts (hcarts.ca) and Kinga Mitrowska (Kinga Mitrowska – Classical Vocal Studio, Singing Classes in Mississauga)
My work extended to particular commissions and the decorative art such as painted furniture and murals. As an artist, I became very active in a large Polish community in Toronto and Mississauga - organizing group art shows, creating stage set designs for Polish cultural events and hosting Polish actors and singers who were touring Canada with their performances.
Due to my husband's work, in 1995, along with our daughters, I relocated to the USA, where we resided for nearly five years. While in Colorado, I graduated with Magna Cum Laude from the University of Colorado Fine Arts, Studio Arts program. I also had successful individual art shows at the Canaan Gallery in Denver, group shows at the University’s Gallery and was featured as an artist in a Denver’s newspaper.
After my return to Canada, in 2001, I established the ArtVeritas Visual Arts Studio in Oakville - where I continued to develop body of paintings in my unique, layering technique with the focus on texture and light. Additionally, I designed specialty, educational art programs for children and adults – which sparked interest amongst local Art Council and cultural institutions. As a result, I was invited to be one of the jurors during cultural events for children and youth; and was invited by Vitek Vincza to collaborate with his Hamilton Conservatory for Arts during some of his production for children. These stage productions involved accomplished preforming artists such as Robert Glumbeck and Robert Desrosiers.
In 2004, I attended York University for the full time Teachers College program - earning a Bachelor Degree in Education, specializing in Visual Arts and Social Sciences (Psychology, Anthropology and elements of Philosophy). After that, I was developing and teaching Visual and Fine Art programs for high school students within international schools (including summer art program in Italy). While in Bronte College of Canada, I designed, organized and was curating theme-based art shows of my international students’ creative works -concerning Child Trafficking & Exploitation, at the Heritage Museum in Mississauga. My Visual and Fine Art programs designed for summer camp at the Appleby College in Oakville, had long waiting list and prompted many students to peruse further development in art.
Throughout this time, I was continuously creating new series of paintings; and was featured with success in several art galleries and newspapers - including Town Square Gallery in Oakville, Arta Gallery and Engine Gallery in Distillery District, Toronto as well as the West of the City Magazine.
In 2011, after successful solo show at the Arta Gallery in Toronto, I was one of the two Canadian artists, invited to sponsored, four weeks Painters Symposium in Greece. Along with twelve international, mainly European artists, I was invited to paint in spectacular surroundings of Meteora and Chios. It ended with the final group art show in Athens. Unfortunately, unexpected tragedy crossed my path as my husband of twenty-seven years, who joined me on that trip, suddenly collapsed with heart failure on the island Paros which we visited. Unconscious, he was transported by the helicopter to the hospital in Athens where he died few weeks later.
This sudden tragedy was completely life-changing; and resulted in a dramatic decisions and unplanned shifts in my life.
Soon after funeral of my husband, I traveled to Ireland where seeking solace, I was inspired by the dramatic landscape - stormy ocean, forever vividly green grasses moved in all directions by the unstoppable wind, illuminating light against gray and cloudy sky. It all deeply reflected my inner emotions.
In a picturesque, characteristic town Kinsale, I rented simple room and created several paintings which were exhibited in the town’s Peacock Gallery. During that trip, I've met an Irishman - commercial fisherman, who later became my husband. Experience of an Irish landscape through the perspective of grief- years later - reflected in a series of paintings "Through the Storm".
Eventually, in 2012 I moved to Niagara region and reestablished my ArtVeritas Visual Arts Studio. As an artist and art educator, I developed collaboration with the local tourist-based businesses and cultural institutions such as wineries, the Pumphouse Art School and Yellow Door Theatre – offering specialty art workshops and taste of culture in Niagara region to tourists and locals. I also continued to develop new series of paintings such as "In My Soul" and "Path". In addition, I had a solo show at the 13th Street Gallery, the Pumphouse Gallery, Jordan Gallery and Mikreations Gallery.
Over the lockdowns, I lost my specious, bright art studio space and - for a while – my art and other endeavors were forced on hold. Nevertheless, my strong ability of seeing light in the darkness, did not allow me to give up. During these sudden dark times that reminded me of the martial law during Communism era in Poland, I created the "Veritatis Splendor - Educational Movement for Children". It was based on elements of the classical, character and faith-based education.
Presently, I was assigned with long term commissions – restoring and transforming sacred art. I completed two sets of fourteen Stations of the Cross at the St. Denis parish in St. Cathrines, Sacred Heart of Jesus in Niagara Falls, murals and series of holy statues for private homes and other churches. I also continue to develop my own series of paintings combined with written reflections and poems. Since the beginning of 2023, my paintings were exhibited at the Konzelmann Winery in Niagara-On-The-Lake and at the White Gellon Gallery in Thorold.
My artistic approach is deeply spiritual. The light in my work speaks about the mysterious and transforming Presence of God. The textured and organic surfaces symbolize our human struggle with life circumstances and with ourselves. Illuminating through the layers of texture, light offers dramatic change, peace, and a sense of belonging. These symbolic images refer to my own spiritual and emotional journey.
My layered art techniques are being developed by my own, long years experimentations with various mediums and tools. I wanted to achieve visual depth and dimension that seems to penetrate through the interior. During art shows in the galleries, my work was compered to Turner for my development of light, and to Caravaggio for the use of chiaroscuro effect. However, for me it's most important that my work will evoke within viewer’s soul contemplativeness of God - Who Is Ultimate Artist and Creator of all things- visible and invisible.