We were lucky to catch up with Kalina Winska recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kalina, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is undoubtedly my current King County Recology Artist in Residence (AIR) program here in Seattle. This experience has been transformative and deeply impactful for both my life and creative practice.
The residency has provided me with a profound perceptual shift, seeing firsthand the immense volume of waste our society produces. This exposure has not only influenced my art but also my philosophy and spirituality. Witnessing the scale of waste has been a sobering reminder of the environmental challenges we face, driving me to create art that speaks to these issues.
My initial proposal for the residency focused on exploring themes of fragility, scale, and renewal through the use of reclaimed materials. The project has allowed me to delve into the possibilities of reuse and transformation, creating installations that highlight the beauty of salvaged objects and provoke thought about sustainability. The process of turning waste into art has been both a creative and philosophical journey, challenging me to rethink the materials I use and the messages I convey.
This residency has been a pivotal moment in my career, pushing me to explore new mediums and concepts while reinforcing my commitment to environmental themes. The opportunity to work with such a unique and challenging set of materials has been incredibly rewarding, offering endless inspiration and growth.
This project stands out not only for its artistic challenges but for its broader impact on how I see and interact with the world. It has solidified my belief in the power of art to inspire change and raise awareness about critical issues like waste and sustainability.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m an artist with roots in Poland. My journey in art has been long and multifaceted, taking me across continents and through various phases of life. I grew up in Poland and studied art extensively there, as well as in Germany and the U.S. It wasn’t until last year that I could finally call myself a self-sustained artist, a milestone that was a long time in the making.
My career started with a deep passion for drawing and painting, where I explored the intricate relationships between natural phenomena and human perception. My works often feature symbols and the accumulation of small shapes, such as arrows and targets, to build larger structures like clouds. These tiny marks, often including chemical formulas of greenhouse gases, reflect my concern for environmental issues. I frequently draw on weather data, visualizations, maps, and radar images to ground my abstract elements in real-world phenomena. Series of paintings like “Unaccustomed Lands” and drawings “Atmospheric Gaze” reflect my fascination with the sublime and ephemeral aspects of nature.
My journey to becoming a self-sustained artist was intertwined with my immigration journey. Moving to the U.S. for studies, I spent many years on a student visa at the University of Florida, and later, I found a job teaching art and design at a university in southern Georgia. While teaching was fulfilling, it left me little time for my creative process. Being in a small city with limited access to an artist community and galleries was a significant obstacle.
The pandemic, however, became a turning point. It made me realize my potential and desire to focus solely on my art. Around this time, I became eligible for U.S. citizenship, which allowed me to make the leap to becoming a full-time artist. I moved to Seattle, following a personal relationship, and found a vibrant community that has helped me thrive. In these past four years, my art has been recognized, leading to gallery representation and significant projects like murals for corporate companies.
Recently, through the Recology King County AIR artists residency, I’ve ventured into three-dimensional installations using reclaimed and recycled materials. Projects like “Unusual Phenomena,” realized a year earlier, which uses storm data from NOAA sources, allowed me to explore themes of fragility, scale, and renewal in profound ways. I’ve been continuing the theme during the residency in a number of ways using recycled and discarded materials, for example: creating large, iridescent structures from crumpled tin metal, highlighting the beauty of reuse and transformation.
What sets my work apart is the integration of traditional techniques with innovative approaches to material and form. Whether through a delicate drawing, a vivid painting, or a striking installation, my art invites viewers to see the world through a lens of curiosity and wonder.
I am proud of how my work sparks conversations about the environment, sustainability, and our place within the natural world in yet subtle and inviting conversation manner. I want potential clients, followers, and fans to know that my art spans a wide range of media, engages viewers deeply, emphasizes sustainability and focuses on environmental issues.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
The driving goal behind my creative journey is to explore and communicate the intricate and often unseen relationships between nature and human impact. Growing up in Poland and studying art across Europe and the U.S., I developed a deep appreciation for the sublime beauty and fragility of our environment. My work often incorporates symbols and detailed elements, such as chemical formulas of greenhouse gases and weather data, to create a visual narrative that connects viewers with these themes.
Through my art, whether it’s detailed drawings, vibrant paintings, or innovative installations using reclaimed materials, I aim to spark conversations about environmental sustainability and our interconnectedness with nature. My mission is to transform perceptions and inspire a deeper awareness of the environmental challenges we face, encouraging a more thoughtful and sustainable interaction with our world.
This mission has become even more significant with my move to Seattle and my experience with the Recology artists residency. Here, I’ve been able to expand my practice and explore new mediums, emphasizing the potential of reuse and transformation. Ultimately, my goal is to create art that not only captivates visually but also instills a sense of responsibility and hope for the future.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
One of the biggest rewards of being a self-employed, self-sustained artist is the freedom to create my own schedule. I now have the flexibility to balance my personal time, studio time, and meeting with people. I can work when I feel most inspired and take breaks when needed, which has significantly improved my overall well-being. Being my own boss is both wonderful and challenging—I get to decide the shape of my work and set my own goals, but it also means managing the ups and downs of workload and creative flow.
Human connection is another deeply rewarding aspect. Through my art, I meet and collaborate with creative and interesting people, which constantly exposes me to new ideas and perspectives. Traveling for residencies, exhibitions, and art shows has allowed me to experience different cultures and landscapes, enriching my creative process and broadening my horizons. This cross-pollination of ideas and experiences is incredibly inspiring and keeps my work fresh and dynamic.
Ultimately, the most rewarding aspect is creating art that resonates with people, inspires them to see the world differently, and instills a sense of responsibility and hope for the future. This connection and impact drive me every day as an artist.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kalinawinska.art/making-art
- Instagram: Kalinawinska
Image Credits
Sung Park
Kalina Winska