10 Questions with Monika Kalinowska
Monika Kalinowska is a dedicated visual artist and creative entrepreneur.
Beginning as a textile artist, Monika Kalinowska has expanded their artistic practice to include oil and figurative painting. They have conducted workshops and exhibited their work internationally, with notable exhibitions such as "Origins" in Melbourne, Australia. Monika Kalinowska's work uniquely blends artistic vision with entrepreneurial spirit, bridging the gap between creativity and business.
Monika Kalinowska - Portrait
ARTIST STATEMENT
Monika Kalinowska's visual research through painting revolves around the female experience, challenging the patriarchal gaze and its societal structures. Central to her work are themes of racial inequality, feminism, LGBTQ rights, and questions about identity and cultural representation. She portrays marginalized individuals in fragments of fragile moments. By painting from photographs, she aims not to replicate the photo but to reveal the portrayed individuals' raw, unfiltered feelings and insecurities. Through her portraits, Kalinowska captures the contrast between the posed photo and the authentic self behind the image.
Her primary medium is oil paint applied with traditional brushes, which is instrumental in conveying the profound depth of her subjects' experiences with a touch of enigmatic quality. She paints herself and people from her close circle, ensuring a deep connection to the subjects through real-life relationships. This technique, combined with inspiration drawn from personal experiences, feminist literature, and the political landscape, drives her work. The pervasive inequality in our society and
the suppression of marginalized voices fuel Kalinowska's paintings, which aim to illuminate the often overlooked and silenced narratives affecting us daily. Her creative process is a unique blend of meticulous planning and spontaneous expression. She begins by sketching initial ideas and selecting color palettes, balancing careful preparation with intuitive execution. This approach results in calculated yet expressive artwork, precisely capturing delicate moments in time. By working in series, Kalinowska builds a narrative and tells each story through multiple fragmented moments, offering a deeper and more comprehensive exploration of her subjects.
Growing up in a traditional patriarchal environment, she paints to reflect a collective journey of overlooked anecdotes that resonate with each female experience. Her work is deeply personal, drawing from her childhood and experiences as a woman. She paints to spark conversations and evoke empathy in viewers, revealing the inner vulnerabilities of her subjects and challenging societal stereotypes. Although initially driven by anger, her final pieces are crafted to evoke love and compassion, offering a nuanced perspective on the subtle stories she portrays. In her portrait series, Kalinowska illuminates the small, hidden narratives that contribute to the broader injustices in our world.
Painting is a healing process for her, and she aims to share this experience with her viewers. Ultimately, Kalinowska's art provides a meaningful and reflective journey for herself and her audience. Each piece is a path toward understanding and closure with our violent history and present, offering compassion and insight—an invitation to see the world through her critical and empathetic lens.
Lovers, Oil on Canvas, 40x60 cm, 2024 © Monika Kalinowska
INTERVIEW
First of all, introduce yourself to our readers. Who are you, and when did you decide to pursue a career as an artist?
I'm Monika Kalinowska, a Berlin-based artist originally from Poland. I've had a multifaceted career path, but I officially decided to pursue art full-time in 2016. That's when I discovered weaving and macramé and began teaching these crafts alongside producing my own artwork. During that period, I had the chance to exhibit my work in Australia, which was a turning point for me artistically. However, my business with plants was rapidly growing, and I had to put my artistic career on hold to focus on that.
In 2023, I made the bold decision to sell the brand I had built over the years to fully dedicate myself to my art practice. This time, I chose oil painting as my primary medium, and I've been a full-time painter ever since. My work now centers on themes of identity, marginalization, and societal structures, blending personal experience with broader social commentary.
How did you transition from being a textile artist to working with oil and figurative painting?
This transition is actually quite personal and interesting. Growing up, I always had a love for painting, but I was never encouraged to pursue it seriously. It was more of an occasional hobby—something I would pick up here and there. Being raised in post-communist Poland, I grew up with the belief that I was just like everyone else and not meant to stand out. The art world, especially painting, seemed so saturated that I didn't think I had a real chance to make an impact, so I turned to textiles as a more niche medium.
After years of therapy and a couple of burnouts, I finally realized that painting had always been my true passion. I didn't want to look back one day and regret never giving it a chance. So, I made the leap, and here I am, doing what I've always dreamed of but never had the freedom, courage, or resources to pursue until now.
Boy with the Bow, Oil on canvas, 60x90 cm, 2024 © Monika Kalinowska
Diego, Oil on canvas, 80x100 cm, 2024 © Monika Kalinowska
Why do you choose oil paint as your primary medium, and how does it help you express the messages you want to convey?
I initially started painting with acrylics because oil paints seemed both more expensive and more difficult to manage. The long drying times, combined with the fact that I lived with pets, made me worry that my work would get ruined before it dried. However, once I moved into a dedicated studio space and had conversations with other painters, I realized oil paints were a better fit for the kind of figurative work I wanted to create.
Oil paint has a unique flow that allows me to manipulate the material more freely, giving me time to build up layers and make adjustments—especially when constructing faces and capturing the subtleties of human expression. The flexibility of oil suits my process of capturing vulnerability and raw emotion in my subjects. I can't imagine going back to acrylics now that I've experienced the depth and control oil offers.
What inspired you to focus your artwork on themes like racial inequality, feminism, and LGBTQ rights?
I was raised by my father, who was in the army, and that upbringing instilled in me a strong sense of justice and the need to stand up for others. As the older sibling, I always felt responsible for protecting my younger brother from bullies, which shaped my desire to fight against unfairness. Later, when I became vegetarian and eventually vegan, my activism expanded to focus on broader social issues.
Working as a video journalist in Berlin further deepened my awareness. Covering daily stories of inequality, I witnessed firsthand the struggles faced by marginalized communities. These experiences made me want to use my voice to advocate for racial justice, feminism, and LGBTQ rights. I believe that art is inherently political, and it has become my tool for raising awareness and sparking conversation. My work is driven by the hope for a fairer world where art can push people to reflect and question societal norms.
Espresso, Oil on canvas, 30x50 cm, 2024 © Monika Kalinowska
Could you share more about your creative process? How do you go from the first idea to the final outcome?
My creative process usually begins with reading. I dive into non-fiction books, mostly centered on feminism, racial inequality, and global conflicts. These topics ignite a strong emotional response in me, often sparking a desire to create something that highlights these issues. This is where the initial inspiration comes from.
I also spend a lot of time looking at photographs, both online and from my own personal collection. Sometimes, a person or character in a photo catches my attention, and I start building a story around them. Other times, I'm focused on a particular story or issue, and I search for or create a character that embodies the narrative I want to convey.
From there, I begin sketching and planning the composition. It's a balance of careful preparation and spontaneous execution—letting the idea evolve as I work. The final outcome is a combination of emotional impulse and thoughtful narrative construction.
At the same time, can you explain how you approach painting from photographs and how it helps you capture raw emotions in your subjects?
When I paint from photographs, I focus on emphasizing subtle aspects of my subject's facial expressions and body language to tell a more profound, emotionally charged story. Rather than just replicating what I see, I look for moments where emotion or vulnerability is on display—capturing something fleeting and raw. This is especially true when I work with photos from my own collection, as they often hold personal significance and depict moments when emotions are revealed, even if unintentionally.
Additionally, I believe it's important not to be too literal in my interpretation of the image. By allowing the viewer to draw their own conclusions about the story behind the subject, I create space for them to connect with the painting in their ownway. This ambiguity invites a deeper, more personal reflection as the viewer fills in the emotional gaps themselves. Through this process, the artwork transcends the photograph, creating a more intimate and engaging experience.
Your work draws from personal relationships and experiences. How do these connections influence the portraits you create?
My personal experiences, especially during moments of vulnerability, have a profound impact on the portraits I create.For instance, I've painted self-portraits from a very challenging time in my life—after going through an abortion followed by a breakup. These experiences not only made me deeply grateful for having the ability to make choices about my own body but also filled me with anger over the fact that so many women are denied that same choice. This blend of raw emotion, both vulnerability and rage, is what I poured into those paintings.
These personal connections bring a deeper intensity to my work, as I use painting as a way to process and express feelings that might otherwise remain internal. The result is a series of pieces that reflect my emotional state and broader societal issues, and I'm still working to complete this series with the hope of sharing it publicly soon.
24h after, Oil on canvas, 80x100 cm, 2024 © Monika Kalinowska
Don’t tell my mum, Oil on canvas, 60x80 cm, 2024 © Monika Kalinowska
Ultimately, what message do you hope to convey to viewers through your portraits of marginalized individuals?
Very simply: love. Through my portraits, I aim to foster a sense of connection and empathy by making marginalized individuals more familiar and relatable to viewers. Often, fear and prejudice stem from the unfamiliar, and by bringing these individuals into focus, I hope to dissolve that fear. My goal is to humanize those who are often overlooked or misunderstood and show that beneath societal labels, we all share common vulnerabilities and emotions. I want my work to encourage people to reflect on their own biases and ultimately embrace a more compassionate, inclusive perspective.
Looking ahead, what themes or stories are you excited to explore in your future projects?
I'm currently working on a project centered around neurodiversity, which really excites me. As someone diagnosed with ADHD, I feel that this condition is often misunderstood and frequently misdiagnosed. Through my art, I aim to shed light on the complexities of neurodivergent experiences, highlighting the strengths and challenges faced by individuals like myself. I believe that by exploring these themes, I can foster greater understanding and empathy, challenging societal misconceptions surrounding neurodiversity.
And lastly, where do you see yourself and your work in five years from now?
In five years, I envision myself on an international stage, making waves with my work and reaching a broader audience. I aspire to have my art exhibited in galleries around the world, engaging with diverse communities and sparking meaningful conversations around the themes I explore, such as neurodiversity, racial inequality, and feminism. My goal isto contribute to a more inclusive art dialogue that challenges societal norms and encourages empathy.
Artist’s Talk
Al-Tiba9 Interviews is a promotional platform for artists to articulate their vision and engage them with our diverse readership through a published art dialogue. The artists are interviewed by Mohamed Benhadj, the founder & curator of Al-Tiba9, to highlight their artistic careers and introduce them to the international contemporary art scene across our vast network of museums, galleries, art professionals, art dealers, collectors, and art lovers across the globe.
