KASIA ART
Polish-American Contemporary Artist Kasia Based In Laguna Beach, Southern California
Kasia is a Polish-American contemporary artist born and raised in a small town in central Poland. She has lived in Los Angeles since 2003 and in 2018 she relocated to Laguna Beach in Southern California.
Moving to California and discovering what the Los Angeles art scene had to offer was eye-opening. Coming from Eastern Europe to the west coast lifestyle, she immediately felt the influence of the beach communities, the freedom of expression, and the attachment to the entertainment industry.
Whether the art is whimsical or thought-provoking, it meshed well with the LA lifestyle sensibilities as opposed to the political and religious overtones of Eastern Europe.
She was seeking freedom of expression and within the famous “City of Lights”, she found it. Kasia developed her artistic craft on her own focusing on contemporary art while finding influence through her humble background and travels around the world. Around 2009 She took a break from painting to pursue fashion and photography. Several years later she returned to her first love, painting.
As Kasia describes it, her imagination is a leading driving force in her life and influences her in almost everything she does. It has always been the most natural and easiest way to express herself. By painting surrealistic characters she likes to focus on the details of their exaggerated eyes so the viewer can learn about their inner status and feel the emotions of the character.
From an early age, art has fascinated and liberated her. Painting allows her to transform images in her mind into something tangible. From the anxiety and excitement of coming to America to finding calm in fulfillment later in life, her paintings tend to mirror her inner feelings and thoughts.
For Kasia, art is one of the most effective ways to give shape to her creative ideas and manifest them in the real world. Her art is a reflection of her diverse influences, which she translates onto canvas, allowing others to experience them in their own unique way.
Kasia’s minimalist art practice is grounded in her passion for architecture photography and interior design. She incorporates geometric shapes and forms, straight lines, scaling, and symmetry to create works that are both visually striking and conceptually rich. She carefully selects a balanced earthy color palette to bring a sense of calm and serenity to her works, which are characterized by their abstract and minimalistic forms.
Kasia’s art is a celebration of simplicity and the profound impact of architecture on our lives. It offers a unique visual language that speaks directly to the soul, imbued with positivity, hope, and the boundless potential of the universe.
WHAT DOES THE PAINTING & TITLE MEAN TO ME?
This is the story about me when as a girl dared to dream beyond my humble beginnings.
I was born in a small town in central Poland, where life was not so easy and resources were limited. Growing up I lived with my parents and my younger brother in a tiny home with no bathroom, sink, or oven, however, I refused to let my circumstances define me. From a young age, I had big dreams and a desire to explore the world.
We could not afford to go away on vacations, so instead as a little girl, I used to take as many brochures as possible from a local travel agency and look in awe at photos of exotic places, beaches, big cities, and natural wonders and fantasize about being there.
Tragically, my hero and inspiration, my father, passed away in 1996 from pancreatic cancer leaving me feeling lost, devastated, and alone. I longed to escape my small town and experience the beauty of the world beyond.
But art became my salvation. Drawing, painting, and writing poetry allowed me to stay alive and fill the void in my heart.
Every morning, on my way to work, I would stop at an empty church and pray for guidance and the courage to pursue my dreams. I wanted to move out and live somewhere I could lose myself in the great big world and find myself again. My dreams were overpowering and I wanted to achieve something beyond what my family and friends believed was impossible.
And then, on May 1st, 2000, I made a bold decision. I packed my bags and left Poland for America, with nothing but my dreams and a fierce determination to succeed. I arrived alone with two bags of clothes, little money, no English, and a one-year tourist visa, but I was undaunted. I was eager to learn, grow, and achieve more. My journey has been one of persistence, courage, and faith. I have never lost my passion for exploring the world, learning, and creating art.
My story is a testament to the power of dreams, and the unshakable belief that anything is possible with hard work and determination.