Wioletta Kulewska
Born in Poland, 1980
Lives in Valletta
Wioletta Kulewska is a Polish artist working between Malta, Poland and Great Britain. Working across painting, design and installation, often extending beyond the limitations of canvas and frame.
Kulewska’s painting practise is pan-european in its influences, from the Polish fauvism to Levantine religious painting and Russian suprematism. 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. Kulewska work is informed by her travels — trips to the Baltic, Caucasus and Eastern Mediterranean territories have resulted in encounters within the ancient world that have served at points of departure for the distinct narratives found in her extended body of work. Forms of peculiar souvenirs brought from these expeditions, such as small artefacts or elements of nature (feathers, shells, bones) can be found across her canvas. The image thus becomes a kind of afterimage of the objects, impressions and experiences gathered, with Kulewska's artistic practice combining elements of research across philosophy, archaeology and anthropology.
Kulewska is a graduate of Fine Arts from the Opole High School of the Arts, the Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Art and Design in Wrocław, Poland and the London Metropolitan University. In 2018, she was selected for the Slade educational residency in Contemporary Painting in London. In 2019, she participated in the PADA artist-in-residence programme in Lisbon, Portugal. Since 2018, she has been part of the Turps CC, an artist-led painting mentoring programme in London. In August 2021, she completed the artist-in-residence programme at the Pedvāle Open Air Art Museum and sculpture park in Latvia.
Kulewska currently teaches painting and experimental visual practice at the Malta School of Art, Valletta.
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
www.londonmet.ac.uk
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
EXHIBITIONS
2022
The Feather Collector
Valletta Contemporary Malta
Curated by Anna Stec
Honorary Patronage of the exhibition Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Valletta Supported by Adam Mickiewicz Institute of Culture
2021
‘Rose, Blood and Fire’
Pedvāle Open Air Art Museum, Galley space in Latvia
Artist-in-residence programme Pedvāle Art Park
2021
'In Absentia' - A virtual group exhibition created by an online contemporary painting platform
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
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE
2021
Pedvāle Open Air Art Museum, Art Park, Latvia
Artist-in-Residence 4 weeks Programme
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
2018-2022
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
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