Justyna Kuklo

Justyna Kuklo is a Polish visual artist, painter, illustrator, and graphic designer based in Brussels. Her practice encompasses painting alongside unique contemporary works utilizing traditional bobbin lace techniques.

Originally from eastern Poland, her artistic path was deeply influenced by her roots. She began her training at the Art High School in Supraśl, focusing on traditional weaving crafts. She subsequently moved to the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk, where she studied at the Faculties of Painting and Artistic Education, earning a Master’s degree in Painting and Illustration. She furthered her education in Belgium at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts de Bruxelles, obtaining a Master’s degree in Textile Arts.

As an interdisciplinary artist, Kuklo divides her professional activity into two primary currents: figurative oil painting and contemporary fiber art employing Belgian bobbin lace.

Her work has been featured in numerous exhibitions across Europe, including Poland, Belgium, France, Spain, the Czech Republic, and Monaco. Her accolades include:

2010: The Prix du Legs Serrure (Brussels).

2009: Nomination for the National Award for Best Artistic Diploma in Painting (Poland).

2006–2008: Scholarship from the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage for outstanding academic achievement.

Justyna Kuklo’s work often explores themes of femininity, tradition, and identity. Her painting style is predominantly figurative; a fascination with the sea (from her time in Gdańsk) combined with the Belgian lace-making tradition (from her years in Brussels) results in a signature style defined by meticulous detail and a sophisticated use of color. A central feature of her work is the search for a synthetic language to narrate emotions and relationships. Her compositions often focus on a specific detail—a pars pro toto—that serves as a gateway to a larger narrative about the human condition.

Kuklo collaborates with the Katarzyna Napiórkowska Art Gallery in Warsaw and in Brussels.