Wioletta Kulewska
Born in Poland, 1980
Lives in Valletta
Works between Malta, Poland and UK
Wioletta Kulewska is an artist who works across painting, design, installation and textile. While her artworks are closely related to the practice of painting, her work extends beyond the limitations of a canvas or a frame.
A graduate of Fine Arts from the Opole High School of Arts, the Academy of Fine Arts in Wrocław, Poland and the London Metropolitan University. In 2018, Kulewska was selected for the Slade’s educational residency in Contemporary Painting. In Spring 2019, she took part in PADA artist-in residence programme in Lisbon, Portugal. She was part of the Turps CC painting programme between 2018/20. From 2019, Kulewska teaches painting and experimental visual practice at the Malta School of Art in Valletta.
Kulewska’s painting practise is pan-european in its influences, from the Polish fauvism she was trained in, to levantine religious painting and Russian suprematism. Since early 2018 Kulewska has taken trips to the Caucasus and Eastern Mediterranean where themes have emerged in her work relating to the ancient and spiritual. Her work is in a constant state of transformation often teeter on the boundaries between playfulness and antiquity, softness and conflict. The artist refers to many things in her paintings, creating forms that are ambiguous and full of contrasts. Her figurative painting shifts between intimate representation and abstraction while her design roots bring emphasis to the pleasure of form, shape and colour in oils. In addition to canvases and papers, Kulewska works with fabric cut outs and textiles to constructs multi dimensional painting compositions.
CV
EDUCATION
2007
MFA Master of Fine Arts
The Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Fine Art & Design in Poland
2000 - 2007
The Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Fine Art & Design in Wroclaw
Painting in Prof. Anna Szewczyk studio
2005 - 2006 Erasmus programme
London Metropolitan University
1995 - 2000
Jan Cybis High School of Fine Arts in Opole Poland
Painting in Prof. Krystyna Wołowska studio
1987 - 1995
Primary School Nr 4 in Kluczbork Poland
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE
2019
PADA studios
Artist-in-Residence 4 weeks programme in Lisbon, Portugal
Project supported by the Arts Council Malta
2018
Slade School of Fine Arts in London, UK
Educational Residency in Contemporary Painting
3 weeks programme
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
2018-2020
Turps Banana CC Painting programme
Painting mentor’s - Phil King and Katrina Blannin
London UK
2018
Slade School of Fine Arts, London UK
Colour in Practice
2 weeks programme
Project supported by the Arts Council Malta
2017
Slade School of Fine Arts, London UK
Painting in Contemporary practice
3 weeks programme
EXHIBITIONS
2019
Abacá - Second solo painting exhibition
Malta School of Art Upper Gallery Valletta
2018
Embedded - First Solo painting exhibition
The Palazzo de la Salle Valletta
2016
G Plan: Made in Malta
Exhibition Design & Curatorial
Blitz Valletta
2014
Spring Walls | design & art installation
Malta Design Week 2014
Fort St. Elmo, Valletta
2011
MoShow (Movable Object Show) | art installation
Malta Design Week 2011
Old University, Valletta
PROJECTS
2016
Film set painter for ‘Entebbe’ movie
Portrait of General Idi Amin
Storyworks productions
2014
Landscape painter for a film set
‘By the sea’ written and directed by Angelina Jolie
2011
‘A Valletta view’ illustration for Uncommon Guide Books, Malta
International guidebook project