“Joanna Pilarczyk: My Paradise”
An Online Solo Show with Select Works Featured at Superfine Art Fair
Artsy Online Exclusive
May 2-31, 2024
Superfine Art Fair Times Square
May 2-5, 2024
148 West 43rd Street New York, NY 10036
The Untitled Space is pleased to present "Joanna Pilarczyk: My Paradise," an online solo exhibition showcasing the vibrant and evocative work of London-based contemporary figurative painter Joanna Pilarczyk. Winner of The Untitled Magazine's prestigious May 2024 Cover Open Call, Pilarczyk's artwork transcends boundaries with her bold paintings that pay tribute to modern portraiture and contemporary figurative art.
Born in Poland and shaped by her experiences in both Eastern Europe and the multicultural landscape of London, Pilarczyk's work is a celebration of diversity, emotion, and the human spirit. With a Master's degree in Visual Arts and Art Education from the Art University in Zielona Gora, she has garnered international recognition and accolades, including recent nominations for the Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award 2024 and the Jackson's Art Prize 2024.
Pilarczyk's paintings are a testament to her bold use of color and form. Her paintings reflect a deep fascination with the vibrancy of paint, as she masterfully blends neon acrylics and oils to create sensual and striking portraits of her acquaintances and friends. Her work explores themes of relationships, self-awareness, and acceptance. Pilarczyk's compositions are characterized by a dynamic interplay of lively, flesh-toned bodies and vibrant, clean abstract shapes, patterns, and lush foliage. Her use of a vivid kaleidoscopic palette, with colors ranging from fluorescent brights to rich neutrals, creates a captivating visual experience that draws the viewer in. Yet, beneath the energetic surface, Pilarczyk's paintings convey a sense of melancholy and stillness, capturing moments where her subjects are simply resting and free of responsibility.
In her latest series, Pilarczyk focuses on portraying mixed-race and LGBTQ+ couples from her community, engaging in discussions with her friends and models to delve into their experiences, love stories, and struggles related to racism, sexuality, and cultural diversity. Through her art, she seeks to inspire acceptance and inclusivity, highlighting the beauty and resilience of those seeking recognition and understanding within society.
As the winner of The Untitled Magazine's Cover Open Call, Pilarczyk's artwork is featured with a digital magazine cover, alongside an exclusive interview for the publication. Additionally, her work is showcased in an online solo exhibition on Artsy curated by Indira Cesarine for The Untitled Space from May 2-31, 2024, and at Untitled's booth at Superfine! Art Fair's 10th anniversary show in Times Square, New York, from May 2-5, 2024.
Artist Bio:
Joanna Pilarczyk is a London-based contemporary figurative painter. Born in Poland, Pilarczyk studied at the Art University in Zielona Gora, where she earned a Master's degree in Visual Arts and Art Education. Pilarczyk's artistic talent has earned her international recognition and accolades. She was recently shortlisted for the Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award 2024 at the National Portrait Gallery and long-listed for the Jackson's Art Prize 2024. In 2023, she was the recipient of the Boynes Monthly Artist Award and a finalist for the International FiKVA Award for Figurative Painters and the Women United Art Prize in both 2022 and 2021.
Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including at prestigious venues including Mall Galleries Women in Art Fair, Start Art Fair in Saatchi Gallery, and the Other Art Fair, London. Solo shows and group shows include Oink Gallery (Swindon, UK), 33 Contemporary Gallery (Chicago, IL.) and Mixx Atelier Gallery (Telluride, CO.). Her work was additionally featured in the 'Memories in Hindsight' group show at the J/M Gallery in Notting Hill and Fitzrovia Gallery in London, UK. Pilarczyk's paintings have been featured in publications including Create! Magazine, Art Seen, Women United Art Magazine, The Huts, Suboart, All She Makes and Boynes Artist Award.