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Ismena Halkiewicz

ISMENA HALKIEWICZ

Ismena studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow, Poland for five years, receiving an Master of Fine Arts, specializing in Oil on Canvas. Chosen as the best student to participate in an intercollegiate exchange, she spent a semester in Nuremberg, Germany.

Ismena’s style is heavily influenced by Impressionism and Surrealism. When painting portraits, she thoughtfully plans how to best represent her subjects, whether it’s through color, style, or symbols. She gets to know their character, their ambitions, personal interests, and preferences in life. She is flexible in her usage of a broad range of materials, including mixed media, oil, acrylics and others.

When arriving in New York City in 2000, Ismena was quickly able to adapt and it was there that she also began to paint murals, furniture and even a car. She emphasizes that creativity and imagination can translate into different innovative forms. When Ismena is not painting, she is involved in promoting international art, music and other cultural values.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

“Through my art I try to construct images that I have observed in my past and materialize them back again on the canvas. The canvas becomes my mind's mirror, a visual document of my perception of where I was and what I have seen. Through colors, I create a special language giving emotions to my memories. My paintbrush becomes a tool with which I give shape and texture to my images. By putting my memories outside of myself and on canvas, I become more intimate with the viewer.”

EXHIBITIONS

Ismena began to exhibit 1989 in Poland, Germany and Cyprus. She has had many individual showings and as participated in numerous group exhibits. Since coming to the US, exhibits of her work include the Waterfall Mansion (New York, NY), Andre Zarre Gallery (New York, NY), The Polish & Slavic Center (Brooklyn, NY), Consulate General of Poland, (New York, NY), Kurier Plus Gallery (Brooklyn, NY), Skulski Gallery, (Clark, NJ), Art Space Fireplace (Brooklyn, NY), Bronxville Women’s Club (Bronxville, NY), International Chopin & Friends Festival (New York, NY); Art for Healing Gallery Center (New York, NY); MAK Art Gallery (New York, NY); Madison Square Garden Short Film Festival (New York, NY); and Polish Institute of Arts & Sciences of America (New York, NY).

Her work is in private collections in several countries including the US, Canada, Italy, France, Greece, Israel, Germany and Poland.