I am fascinated by the effect that travel has on us and how it reveals and creates layers of ourselves as the journey continues. I have deep interests in nature, abstraction, and representing human experience which I try to express in the two dominant themes of my work, landscapes, and figurative.
1. Tell us about your background and journey.
I’m a full-time abstract expressionist artist originally from the city of Lublin in south-eastern Poland. Over the last 20 years, I’ve lived in England, Switzerland, and now in beautiful Asturias in the north of Spain.
2. When and how did you decide to pursue art?
From as young as I can remember I was infused with a sense of freedom and love of texture and color. I don’t remember ever really making a conscious decision about pursuing art, it was always a central part of my life.
In my early teens I went to art college for 5 years where I focussed mainly on textiles, before going on to university where, by special arrangement, I was able to study and attend classes on weekends, allowing me to also work full time at a local art studio in order to pay for the university fees.
I moved to Cambridge, England in 2005 and after lots of small local shows and exhibitions, got my first offer of gallery representation a couple of years later. In 2009 my husband’s job took us to a small town near Zurich, Switzerland, where I had a solo show mainly of my figurative work.
The move to Spain happened in 2015 and a year later, with both children now going to school, I decided it was time to concentrate fully on my art and began to turn it into a full-time career.
3. What kind of theme inspires you and how would you define your style and aesthetics?
I am fascinated by the effect that travel has on us and how it reveals and creates layers of ourselves as the journey continues. I have deep interests in nature, abstraction, and representing human experience which I try to express in the two dominant themes of my work, landscapes, and figurative.
I would probably classify my work as abstract expressionism although at times it can edge more towards impressionism and at others more towards pure abstract or surrealism.
4. What are the challenges of being an artist and how do you overcome them?
Getting seen by enough people to be able to turn it into a full-time occupation was probably one of the biggest challenges. Luckily for me, my husband has given his full support to my career and works with me full-time in managing the online marketing and the business side of my art practice, leaving me free to be in the studio.
Living in a foreign country and supporting my family at the same time as trying to develop new ideas and evolving my work into new directions is a continual challenge. The only way I know of to overcome this has been to work hard and keep painting whilst building an international following online.
5. Which is your favorite art movement and why?
I was strongly influenced by European and in particular Polish modernism. I find in it a strong resonance with its experimental nature and its representation of humanity and our perception of existence, especially the complexity of human nature and the constant dispute between spirituality and sensuality.
I also love many Polish post-war artists, for example, Magdalena Abakanowicz, that were pushing the boundaries of traditional media and form.
6. What message would you give to aspiring artists?
Be true to yourself but also don’t be afraid to experiment and push yourself beyond your comfort zone!
7. Which is your favorite book and why?
Awareness by Anthony De Mello. It was a wake-up call that helped me to begin to understand myself and build my own independent mindset.
Magdalena Morey (b. 1974) is a professional artist based in the north of Spain. Born and educated in Lublin, Poland, Magdalena has a diploma in Textiles and a first - class Masters degree in Art. She is represented by numerous galleries and is regularly included in art fairs and exhibitions around the world."
Interviewed By - Anshika Maurya
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