Iwona Jankowski
Artist Statement;
There is a beauty in every aspect of my life and I have a need to share it with others.
An essential part in my artistic growth was my Art School sculpture teacher Elzbieta Szczodrowska. She taught me to identify with the sensitivity in the world around me, to see, feel and finally become the subject. She showed me how to ignore destructive aspects and emphasize on the important parts of my subject, sometimes a very tiny detail, in order to understand and show the idea behind it. That finally led me to effective use of visuals to depict a story behind my subject. Additionally, another significant influence on my art is my fascination of the simplicity and the perfection of clean forms found in the prehistoric cave paintings.
My art merges abstract expressionism with a touch of realism and captures just an indication to leave the rest for my viewer’s imagination to create unique stories.
I hope my art will bring some people escape, peace and provide relaxation from today’s daily lackluster world.
- Iwona Jankowski
Biography;
Iwona Jankowski was born in Poland. Her fascination with art started at a very early age.
After graduating from the School of Visual Arts in Gdynia, Poland, for one year, she studied drawing and painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdansk, Poland.In 1981, Iwona Jankowski moved to United States where she continued her education at Houston Community College under the Computer Science /Computer Graphics Major.
She continued to work in Digital Graphics, Graphics Design, Multimedia creating Interactive Computer Based Training courses, as well as Software Development.
In 2000, after many years of encouragement from her husband, she made the tough decision to walk away from a lucrative position as a project manager to pursue a full time career in fine art. Her art passion, education, broad experience, and professional carrier in commercial art helped her to broaden her skills, and continue to identify as well as develop her own means of artistic expressions.
Iwona Jankowski is a contemporary artist who has experience in various art medium including sculpture, oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastels, pencil, charcoal, digital art, graphics, and silk screen printing as a medium for her original art.
Grace
Morning competition
Into Blue Light
Ready To Run
Green Schadow
Supreme Trace 2
Unspoken
Publications;
2011– 3 poems written by Australian awards winning poet Kym Eitel--poems inspired by my work will be published in her new book.
2009 – Gazeta.pl, Polish News Portal – featured artist by Malgorzata Mazur
2009 - The Equinest Magazine - featured artist
2009 – "Wspolczesni" ("Contemporary Artists") – Art book published by AdiArt and LCL-sa
2009 - Art Horse Magazine - "Awaiting Race" - Fifth place winner in Ex Arte Equinus juried competition
2009 - Ex Arte Equinus Book - " Awaiting Race" - awarded to be published in the Ex Arte Equinus II book
2008 - Polish TV1Lodz - Artist's Interview - "Polo in Art"
2008 - Mottled Horses Image published on 2009 Calendar. The Association of Friends for Children with Heart Disease, published by LCL-sa in Poland
2008 - Polish Radio Lodz - Interview with Wojslaw Rodacki "Obiezyswiat"
2008 - Contemporary Painting Magazine – "Polo in Art" article by Adam Kowalczewski AdiArt
2008 - Art Horse Magazine 2008 #6- "Unperturbed Night" - Fourth place winner in Ex Arte Equinus juried competition
2008 - Ex Arte Equinus Book "Unperturbed Night" & "Crossing Souls" - prize winners in Ex Arte Equinus contest
2007 - POLO PLAYER'S EDITION Magazine - "Crossing Souls" painting was selected in the art contest for inclusion in 22 annual Polo and Sporting Art issue
2007 - Art Horse Magazine, EX ARTE EQUINUS International Equine Art Competition - fourth place
2007 – Horses in Art Magazine, Fall 2007 – Featured Artist Iwona Jankowski 2007 – The Heights Pages Magazine, Fall 2007 – Interview with the Artist
2007 - When you Wake Up book by Nicholas Cameron,
2007 – ACEO Art Magazine, Spring 2007 – Featured artist
2006 – Contemporary Painting Magazine September 2006 - article by Adam Kowalczewski,
2006 – TV interview – RET1SAT TV Lodz, Poland,
2006 – Radio Interview – Polish Radio Lodz, Poland
2005 - Fox 26 News KRIV Houston - Featured Artist, December,
Listings;
This fascinating composition swirls with dramatic colors that nevertheless seem to convey a sense
of stillness in the midst of motion. The horses exist in a transitory realm, yet our eyes are drawn to the
dramatic focal points of ears, eyes, mouths, and nostrils, as if the horse’s themselves are focused on
those senses as well. The expression in the prominent horse’s eye, and the juxtaposition of the two noses,
conveys to me a subtle communication passing from one horse to the next. This composition is strikingly
unique, yet it is more than just an abstract study; for it conveys the artist’s awareness of the essential
aspects of horse’s expressions and behaviors. ~ Kim McElroy
***
"Iwona Jankowski’s talent and passion shine in her immensely detailed and inspiring works. In her "Horses"
series, she captures the intense and alluring natural beauty of one of the most respected and miraculous
animals on Earth. The radiant colors used to depict the horse are breathtaking and mystical. They create
the sense of movement giving life to the paintings and providing a window to the graceful and powerful world
of the horse. Her portrayal of this magnificent creature is truly of the utmost uniqueness. With her
"Sexy Flowers" ™ series, Iwona gives an extremely detailed view of flora using vivid colors and eloquent brush strokes, capturing the innate and complex splendor of every petal. The visual stimulation triggers the senses i
into believing that one is so close to the flower that they could actually smell its sweet bouquet." -
eArt Zone Gallery 2006
***
Iwona Jankowski - Why horses? Why flowers?
When last year my friend visited AGORA Gallery at Chelsea New York, NY, he admired work of Polish
born artist Iwona Jankowski and he ask himself a repeated question. Why horses? Why artists, for so
many years and centuries worshipped this creature?Slovenes stored symbols of sword fold; horse's
harness and saddle beside statue of Svetovid. They kept white horse by the temple that nobody dared
to ride it, because it was the holy horse used during sacral ceremonies for divinations. Common gathering
place for old Slovenes cult where "Holy Groves" considered as headquarters of gods. It was the place they
put statues of deities and folds of offered beasts. Among them horse was holding particular position,
because it was thought that horse in close contact with gods.
Iwona Jankowski
