Dragon fruit and green marbles swirl composition n°4, 2024

Monika Malewska  

Monika Malewska is a Polish artist living and working in the United States.

“My works use the conventions of the historical genre of still life but subvert them with elements of contemporary American (over)consumption society. My use of meat, dolls, toys, and corporate icons bridges the notions of kitsch and high art, alluding to the Vanitas theme found in 17th-century Dutch still life paintings.”

Using photographs and, more recently, digitally manipulated prints as starting points for her paintings and works on paper, Malewska manipulates the representation of objects to deconstruct the aesthetics of commercial advertisements and the politics of a world shaped by material desire.

At first glance, her compositions are alluring with their vibrant colors. However, upon closer examination, elements of unease and decay emerge. Beneath each of these comical and absurd compositions lies a layer of dark humor, a commentary on the complex relationship between body politics, mercantilism, and consumer cultures.

Monika Malewska’s work is regularly exhibited around the world, including a 2024 duo show that made waves at the Piękna Gallery in Poland, at the CICA Museum in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea with CIRCLE 2024, and closer to home in the United States at the Woman Made Gallery.