The energy in Warsaw is like that of no other city in Poland. As the capital, it is a city growing with its citizens’ creativity and aspirations. Development, modernisation and restoration are changing the streets and skyline of every suburb. Nowhere was this more obvious than in Warsaw’s street art and graffiti scene. Before relocating to Gdansk in late 2024, I lived in Warsaw for more than 12 years.
My fascination for Warsaw’s street art and graffiti went beyond photographic documentation of the art. Every burst of colour, erratic tag or activist slogan triggered a personal and emotional response that literally challenged my mind and diverted my daily journeys. Street art and graffiti is invasive, yet so often beautiful. It is put there to enhance, to provoke and it is the purest form of expressionism. I believe we should all have an open mind and willing imagination to embrace and let it move us.
Gdansk is now my home. I live on the Baltic coast. It is beautiful. It is calm. It is nothing like Warsaw.
I am super proud of reaching this goal! Publishing my book was an organic progression, yet huge challenge for me., born from years of documenting urban art in Warsaw. Sharing my discoveries and musings through a blog and social media, and selling thousands of photographs, personally mounted, framed, titled and signed to clients all over the world. is what gave me the drive I needed to take my creative work to the next level!
Everyone said ‘MAKE A BOOK’. So I did.
I worked closely with an incredibly talented, creative and very patient graphic designer, the founder of OneOnes Creative Studio, Dominika Jagiello. She guided me through the process of building a cohesive and beautifully designed book. The book was published with support from the Ogarnij Miasto team.
ISBN 978-83-939180-2-7
In early 2015 I opened my gallery named WAWA BLA BLA in the centre of Warsaw!
A gallery and creative brand that gave space and visibility to independent artists as well as showcasing my photographs and book.
I gave street artists a place to be seen — a space alive with color, noise, and freedom. A place to sell original work and no commission charged! It was my thank you for the work they shared with me every day on the streets.
The gallery was a great success and hosted many well known and upcoming Polish artists original works. The one thing they all had in common was they had all caught my eye due to their art, tags or graffiti on the streets of Warsaw and Poland.
It was a great honour and pleasure to have two of my favourite artists paint directly on, and in the gallery!
Nespoon donned the facade with a hand cut stencil centred with a decorative ceramic! I still have the ceramic.
Proembrion graced the back wall of the gallery interior with his signature spray painted murals.
I left Warsaw, and had to close my gallery. It was a sad day, but the sales of art were impressive. I tucked all the experience and learning under my belt and feel very grateful for owning such a unique place.
The city of Gdansk is ripe for such a gallery, so watch out! Who knows what will happen next for me?
