Kasia Koralewska is a textile-based artist and art educator currently living in Mohkinstsis (Calgary), Canada. She received her education at the Alberta College of Art & Design in Calgary, Canada and the Academy of Fine Arts in Lodz, Poland (Master of Fine Arts 2009). She presently teaches in the Fibre program at the Alberta University of the Arts. Her research explores various techniques and processes in textile surface design, with a focus on sustainability and natural dyes. Her artistic practice involves creating large-scale silkscreen printed, dyed, and painted textiles, wearable and home décor objects, drawings, and installations. Her work has been exhibited in Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Australia, and Canada.
I am a textile artist and designer; my practice includes observation and analysis of people, both individually and as anonymous members of society. My ideas develop through drawings, photography, silkscreen printing, various textile practices and installation. I am curious about people (myself included), our relationships, our connection to nature, the spaces we inhabit, and aspects of life we keep private or choose to share publicly.
In an attempt to discover the originality and uniqueness of each individual, I often study their bodies and physicality. Sometimes I create controlled situations to illustrate differences in behaviour. Other times, I document people as collective, linked elements of society. I am interested in people as a dominant species that significantly impacts their environment. Careful observation of my surroundings and accidental recordings of events often spark discoveries that lead to extensive research.
My practice is continually evolving while my technical skills are being refined. I am always learning new and improved ways of working. Recently, my research has focused on natural dyes, which have deepened my appreciation for nature and supported my efforts in sustainable art practice. I carefully choose and create the imagery I work with to communicate my ideas and interests. My desire is to produce technically complex, multilayered, large-scale prints that can serve as fashion and home décor pieces or as parts of installations. In drawing and other media, it culminates in readiness to study difficult situations in all scales and with various techniques.