Monika Osiecka is one of the most appreciated Polish artists abroad and she continually holds exhibihtions of her work in both Switzerland and France. Contradicting the wide spread stereotype of the delicate nature of women, she works with grinders and pneumatic hammers. Her material of choice is stone and bronze.
Sculptress and author, Monika Osiecka is a graduate of the Academy of Fine Art in Warsaw, where she attended the studio of of Grzegorz Kowalski, the famous Kowalnia. She came to sculpture through a fascination of the cultures of Italy and Iran, where she spent her childhood and early years. Born in Milan, she studied Persian and Italian literature and languages at the University of Warsaw however, an increasing fascination with art led her to enroll in the Academy of Fine Art. She creates abstract sculptures and female nudes. Osiecka's works are being exhibited in both Europe and worldwide.
Her latest personal exhibitions:
- Gallery Marchand, Desa – Warsaw, Poland 2012
- Gallery Bachlechner - Zurich, Switzerland 2013
- The Creative - Long Island, New York, USA 2013
- Permanent Representation of the Republic of Poland to the UN in Geneva, Switzerland 2013
- Orne Department – Alencon, France 2014
In 2012 the publishing house Słowo/Obraz/Terytoria printed a book/album in both Polish and English entitled “Mirror Fragments” authored by the artist. The poetic form and incredible intimacy of this autobiographical narration reflects a highly original and rare work in Polish literature of creative self awareness and a woman's experience.
In 2014, Monika Osiecka won a competition held by the French Departmental Bureau of Culture for the creation of a statue in rememberance of the 70th anniversary of the victorious battle of Montormael near Falaise, “Maczuga” (Hill 262 - 'the mace') by the 1st Armoured Division of General S. Maczek.
The statue is simultaneously the last step of an international project in rememberance of the sculptor Otto Freundlich entitled “The European Route of Peace”. This project is composed of 100 sculptures located along the way between Moscow and Paris. The unveiling of Osiecka's sculpture “The Wings of Peace” took place on the 22nd of August 2014 during the celebrations of the victory of the Battle for Normandy.
