Karolina Zglobicka

About Karolina

(b.1988) originally Polish, lives and works in Valencia, Spain.

Moving from Poland to England and then to Spain, inspired her to explore the theme of relocation, changes that confront the familiarity of the space we live in, things left behind and those that adapt to travel with us continuously.

In her recent paintings, Zglobicka examines the physicality and meaning of objects around us, placing them in a reminiscent set up, isolated and removed from natural surroundings just to glorify their influence on memories. She focuses on things we lose, misplace, get rid of, or treasure as souvenirs. Compositions presented on her paintings seem staged for performance, showcasing past events, everyday situations we witnessed, or those alternative ones that could have been, but never happened.

Viewers of her work are invited to take part in an interplay between chosen objects, to feel the tension between selective memory and ubiquitous symbolism hidden behind figurative representation. Context of selected subject matter challenges the borders of familiarity and imagination we project onto what we see.

Main inspiration comes from family photos, objects found on the streets of Valencia with their history to be rewritten by the artist, objects often utterly insignificant, collected pieces of everything that may create an allusive link between composition and essential nature of the memory they respond to.

The way paint is applied on canvas lures the viewer into thinking about time. In attempts of both capturing its liquidity as well as revealing the consequences of allowing to run freely.

Repetition of layers and motifs, correlation of presented figures, disappearance of definite shapes and meanings, gives an artist a chance to experiment within the history of figurative painting and question boundaries of theoretical descriptions of practice.

Education

  • 2012-2015 BA(Hons) Fine Art – Manchester School of Art – Manchester Metropolitan University – Manchester UK
  • 2011-2012 Foundation Studies in Art and Design – The Manchester College – Manchester UK

Events:

  • July 2023 – Arts In Square – featured in Arts In Square magazine issue 4
  • June 2023 – The Purposeful Mayo – featured in magazine issue 3.1
  • May 2023 – Arts In Square – added to permanent feature as presented artist on their website
  • Jan 2023  – Longlisted for Jackson’s Painting Prize
  • Dec 2022 – Arts In Square #2 Exhibition 
  • Sept 2022 – Selected for Contemporary Art Collectors – emerging artists program 
  • Aug 2022 – Featured in The Purposeful Mayo Journal – 2.2
  • May 2022 – The Other Art Fair – Saatchi Art – Virtual edition
  • Sept 2016 – Artwort Atelier – Open Studios – Manchester UK
  • Dec 2015 – Featured in Fresh Paint Magazine December issue.
  • Oct 2015 – Featured in Saatchi Art Catalog – 20 emerging artists
  • June 2015 – Manchester School of Art Degree Show  – Manchester UK
  • Mar 2015 – FINE ART AUCTION – The Holden Gallery – Manchester UK
  • Feb 2015 – THE PAINTED WORLD – shortlisted – Saatchi Art showdown
  • Aug 2014 – “35 x 35 ART PROJECT” – Copelouzos Family Art Museum – Athens, Greece
  • June 2014 – part of – INVEST IN ART IV – Saatchi Art
  • May 2014 – FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF CDM – Center for Design and Manufacture – Manchester UK

Exhibitions:

  • Dec 2022 – Arts In Square #2 Exhibition
  • July 2022 – Beep Painting Biennale – Shortlisted – Elysium Gallery Swansea UK
  • May 2022 – The Other Art Fair – Saatchi Art – Virtual edition
  • Sept 2016 – THE MANCHESTER CONTEMPORARY – Artwork Atelier
  • June 2015 – MANCHESTER SCHOOL OF ART DEGREE SHOW – Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester
  • Feb 2015 – IST KUNST ISM – Federation House/Castlefield Gallery’s New Art Spaces Manchester
  • Feb 2015 – THE PAINTED WORLD – Saatchi Art showdown – Ace Hotel – Los Angeles
  • Oct 2014 – ROYAL ULSTER ACADEMY 133rd ANNUAL EXHIBITION – Belfast
  • Aug 2014 – Shortlisted for ROYAL ULSTER ACADEMY 133rd ANNUAL EXHIBITION – Belfast
  • Jun 2014 – Shortlisted for SECRET ART PRIZE 2014 – London
  • Jun 2014 – THE LICHFIELD ART PRIZE – shortlisted – exhibition at Lichfield Cathedral 4th-13th July