My name is Anna Alicja Matuszewska, although I often work under my artistic pseudonym, "Anna Alicja." I’m a young painter, and my work is a reflection of my emotions and inner thoughts. From an early age, art has been my constant companion — a source of comfort and stability through both joyful and difficult times. It’s through the creative process that I find peace in the midst of chaos, not by resisting disorder, but by gently shaping and organizing it.
My art focuses on visual harmony. Initially, my paintings were rooted in realism—I was inspired by both nature and the human body, capturing their beauty using traditional painting techniques. Over time, however, I felt the need to move beyond the confines of realism to better grasp the complexity of the inner world. My studies in graphic design opened new horizons, allowing me to experiment with form. This led to the development of my own style, where aesthetics intertwine with personal emotions. I have always been fascinated by texture, folds, materials, and an 'overload' of details, yet the complexity of human emotions and relationships remains the core of my work. This enables me to create visual narratives that invite viewers into a reflective dialogue.
"Underwater Abstractions" is a series of paintings created in response to personal struggles with loneliness, anxiety, and fear, which resurfaced during a difficult period in my life. Recalling my first scuba diving experience—when I was overwhelmed by an unprecedented sense of calm, and my intrusive thoughts faded—I found inspiration to create a series of works referencing the underwater world. Each painting in this series reflects a different emotion, and the creative process became deeply therapeutic, allowing me to experience emotional catharsis.
Butoh, the avant-garde form of Japanese dance theater, has a significant influence on my work. Growing up, I was immersed in the world of dance theater thanks to my father, who specializes in photographing this art form. This experience profoundly shaped my understanding of movement and expression, motivating me to merge the fluidity and dynamism of dance with the still essence of painting.
My artistic journey is marked by relentless curiosity and dedication to creativity as a value in itself. From this motivation, my motto "creation over consumption" was born. Over the years, I have explored various media, including digital graphics, jewelry making, tattooing, and animation. Despite these explorations, painting has always remained my primary passion. I began treating it as my professional path at the age of 15 when I had my first exhibition.
I hold a Bachelor's degree in New Media Art from the Polish-Japanese Academy of Information Technology in Warsaw. Since 2021, I have collaborated with the Gallery of Young Polish Art, located at Kopernika Street 8/18 in Warsaw.
Exhibitions:
2015: Solo exhibition accompanying the Butoh performance event "Obecni Ciałem", Warsaw
2018: "Identity", Autonomia Gallery, Warsaw
2021: Exhibition organized by the Gallery of Young Polish Art, Warsaw
2022: Exhibition on Île Saint-Louis, Paris
2022: "Discovering Diversity", Riviera Palace, Monaco
2024: "Intercontinental Biennial", MARQ Museum, Buenos Aires
2024: "Future Stars", The Holy Art Gallery, London
2024: "Amsterdam Physical Show", The Holy Art Gallery, Amsterdam
2024: "Gardens", duo exhibition with Yassiek Stochastic, Gallery of Young Polish Art, Warsaw
2025: Young Art Fair at Young Art Space; Łódź
Competitions:
2024 – Honorable Mention in the Blue Space Gallery competition "Representation vs. Abstraction"
Publications:
November 2024 – Talents Magazine Poland
