Blooming painting of the young generation - the work of Ewelina Ulanecka

As part of the "Closer to Art" series, we have the pleasure of introducing the profile of Ewelina Ulanecka, an intriguing painter of the young generation. Her exhibition of works will be on display from September 6th to September 12th. On Saturday, September 9th, you can join a tour guided by the artist herself.  

"The Blossom Essences" is the first solo exhibition of the young artist Ewelina Ulanecka at the DESA Unicum auction house. She completed her artistic education at the Higher School of Art and Design in Łódź in 2007. The technical skills she acquired during her studies in fashion design and jewelry-making are translated into the language of painting.

In works such as "Black Swan," "Stranger Things," "Bubble Tea," "Blueberrydream," and "Mad Max," Ulanecka draws on pop culture motifs, rendering them through the language of abstraction. These and other compositions were featured in exclusive young art auctions at Desa Unicum. In her practice, the artist breaks the two-dimensionality of painting, using her own technique of acrylic and resin. Her compositions resemble haute-couture fabrics, electrifying with bold color combinations and texture. As the artist admits, the world of fashion is an endless source of creative inspiration: "Fashion unleashes extraordinary creativity in us; it constantly changes and surprises." 

Ewelina Ulanecka readily confronts large-format canvases, creating blooming works of art on them: "(...) I like the strong impact of color, and the larger the format, the more powerful the color experiences. In smaller formats, I subconsciously limit the scope of my thoughts," she says. Ulanecka's abstract compositions are painted with acrylic paints and evoke images of canvases covered with distorted rosebuds. In her floral art, Ulanecka experiments with color spots and the structure of the work, deliberately breaking away from figurative representation. "In abstract art, I value the sense of absolute freedom in self-expression the most; it is a form of art that imposes no boundaries," she adds. 

Paulina Brol: Did fashion and painting always go hand in hand, or did painting come later?

Ewelina Ulanecka: When I was a little girl, alongside creating clothes for dolls, there was always an irresistible urge to draw and paint. At that time, I drew everything and everyone; it was already a small inspiration from the world around us translated onto paper. That's how I remember my childhood; these activities brought me the most joy... up to today, I still design clothes, but I find the most fulfillment in creating paintings. Painting and fashion are an incredibly inspiring combination; these two fields mutually fuel my creativity. Fashion allows me to look at painting from a completely different perspective, helping me discover its various hidden corners. 

PB: How did your technique develop, and what inspired your fascination with texture? 

EU: I enjoy an unconventional approach to painting. I continually experiment with paints and materials suitable for plastic manipulation. You could say I am always in the process of creating and discovering, and painting is a stream flowing from the depths of my soul. I very much enjoy these experimental journeys when creating works. However, I can't pinpoint a specific impulse for creating texture in paintings, but the need for it is deeply ingrained in my subconscious.

PB: How do you create your paintings? Is there a clear idea from the start, or do the images emerge during the process?

EU: Most often, at the beginning of working on a painting, there is apparent chaos. Then, during the painting process, an intuitive vision takes shape. A direction emerges in which the painting will evolve. The actual process of creation and working with materials is very inspiring. Acrylic media mixed with resin, combined with acrylic or oil paints, create various cracks and textures on the canvas. Some cracks appear after drying, revealing previous layers of paint, while others build up the unique texture of the painting. I love this moment of work, and I also enjoy combining different shades of paint on the canvas with saturated pigments, which, when dry, reveal incredibly colorful combinations and strong color intensities. As a result of this creation, many intriguing elements appear on the canvas, giving each work a specific character. Each painting is a journey into the unknown, and I'm always curious about the final outcome.