CONNECTING
DISTINCT
WORLDS
JOANNA KOZIEJ
HELLO!
As “Malarka” I strive to create zeitgeist and site-specific paintings on ceramic tiles. Whether it is a journey to a new geographical destination or inwards, I am constantly looking for themes to reinterpret. I explore personal stories, icons, experiences and then paint a homage to them.
IMPULSE
I seek to tell an engaging story through brushstrokes and rich compositions. I often think about the process as journeying – confronting myself with the new, the uncertain, the beautiful — and sometimes the ugly and difficult. I am focused on finding connections, whether in harmonious details and patterns or in mismatches and contrasts. The juxtaposition of intuitive brushstrokes with crisp, geometric shapes allows me to render the complex emotions.
enamel paint on ceramic tile, 100 x 100 cm
Warsaw, Poland, 2021
POETIC
VANDALISM
Whenever I travel, I create a tiny ephemeral art exhibition, pasting up my dedicated paintings in public space as a thank you note and a curiosity to discover by others.
Enamel paint on ceramic tile, 20 x 20 cm, 2019-2021
◄ paste up in Hradec Kralowe [Czechia]
▲ Bologna [Italy]
► Berlin [Germany]
▼ Lyon [France]
ROOTS
The roots of my “Malarka” project owe a lot to the street art movement, which I find fascinating. I understand it as an impulse to speak up and enrich public space so that people can connect with art outside of comparatively hermetic “white cube” galleries. On the other hand, my background and practice are focused on a more subtle and abstract approach to art. To bridge these two worlds, I chose enameled ceramic tile as my canvas. This medium is resistant enough to withstand the elements outiside but fine enough to stand out inside.
"M"
STANDS FOR MALARKA
“Malarka” (“paintress” and also a jargon word for a “paint job” in
Polish) is an alias and the name of a project, that I started in 2015,
following my dream of painting, designing and roaming free around
the world.
As of the beginning of 2022 I decided to implement this idea fully and
move my home and art studio into a 90s van. Even though my working
space became smaller, I am able to build up the size of my paintings
by using the tiles as modules. This minor discomfort is compensated
by the endless inspiration coming from the freedom of travel.
FIND MY ART AROUND THE WORLD
JOANNA KOZIEJ
Visual artist from Warsaw, Poland, born 1986.
MA at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, Poland.
Scholarship at Ecole Nationale Supérieure Des Arts
Décoratifs in Paris, France
2006 – 2012 Master of Arts degree – top grade with honours at Graphics Faculty, Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, Poland
2010 Artist residency, BizArt Space, Shanghai, China
2010 Scholarship for poster workshops, International Graphics Festival, Echirolles, France
2009/2010 Scholarship in Paris, France, Printed Image Faculty, Ecole Nationale Supérieure Des Arts Décoratifs
2009 Scholarship for Interactive site-specific installations, Ljubljana, Slovenia
2021 – “𝕿𝖊𝖒𝖕𝖚𝖘 𝕱𝖚𝖌𝖎𝖙 – Malarka” solo painting exhibition, Sen Nocy Letniej, Warsaw, Poland
2019 – ‘マラルカ / Malarka’ solo painting exhibition – Art For Thought, Tokyo Ginza, Japan
2018 – “Malarka na Jazdowie/Paintress at Jazdów” solo painting exhibition, RDK – Rotational Culture Centre, Warsaw, Poland
2017 – “different takes” solo painting exhibition,Town Hall Art Gallery, Municipal Center of Culture, Legionowo, Poland
2015 – 2017 “Malarka” ceramic tile display, i.a. Lisbon, Berlin, Hamburg, Paris, London, Warsaw
2016 – Solo graphics & painting exhibition, Hugonówka, Konstancin, Poland
2014 – ‘Colorically’ Painting Exhibition, New York Gallery, Curator: Sylwia Mańko
2014 – ‘Bravo Lovely’ Painting exhibition, Radna 6/8 Gallery, Warsaw
2014 – ‘Make it on the square vol. 4’, Graffiti Jam, Warsaw
2014 – ‘Movements’ & ‘the Family’, Solo painting exhibition, Basilia, Warsaw
2014 – ‘bARTer, images for exchange’ project, Blok Żab. atelier, Warsaw
2013 – Poster exhibition, ‘Night of the Museums in the Block’, Blok Żab. atelier, Warsaw
2012 – Poster exhibition ‘Performeria Warszawy’, Squat Przychodnia, Warsaw
2012 – Poster exhibition, 23rd International Poster Biennale in Warsaw
2012 – Poster exhibition ‘Turboposter’, Między Nami, Warsaw
2011 – Exhibition, Night of the Museums, GPW, Warsaw
2011 – Exhibition ‘Drawings from Graphics’ Klatka Gallery, Warsaw
2011 – Poster exhibition, Przy Automacie Gallery, Warszawa
2010 – Installation, exhibition in BizArt Gallery, Shanghai
2010 – Poster exhibition, 4th International Student Poster Biennale in Nowy Sad
2010 – Poster exhibition, International Graphics Festival, Echirolles
2010 – finals, european poster competition ‘The river and the city’, Vitry-sur-Seine, France
2009 – „We are for sale” happening, Academy of Fine Arts, Warsaw
2009 – Interactive installations, Ljubljana, Slovenia
2008 – Nagroda Rektora ASP w Warszawie, Konkurs Grafika Warszawska, galeria TEST
2008 – Painting exhibition, Fryderyk Chopin University of Music, Warsaw
2021 – „She creates paintings on ceramic tiles. See the Mermaid accoring to Joanna Koziej” – Article in MADWhite magazine [PL]
2020 – “Project: Malarka. Joanna Koziej and her unique street art.” interview in Uroda Życia magazine / DECEMBER 2020 NR 10 (72) [PL]
2018 – „Graffiti of the 21st century. Joanna Koziej on how she marks the world” – Interview in the Polish Radio [PL]
2016 – overview of graphics and paintings, ‘eleWator’ printed quarterly magazine about literature and culture. [PL]
LIKE MY ART?
Whether you’re curious about my creative process, commissioned work, or collaboration, I’d be happy to answer any questions.