The Keepsakers exhibition showcases works by Marcelina Amelia, Anna Pakosz, Anna Samoylova, and Karolina Zgłobicka, each exploring the idea of a keepsake—an object that holds personal and emotional significance.
Anna Samoylova delves into self-discovery and cultural adaptation through a series of self-portraits and embroidered lingerie. Drawing from childhood memories, traditional Russian motifs and family artefacts, she weaves visual connections between her past and her present identity as a mother, woman, and artist.
Anna Pakosz’s works are keepsakes in themselves. While using a free sweeping gesture with a brush, she imprints her movement, emotions, and reflections on her evolving life, preserving fleeting moments in paint.
Karolina Zgłobicka explores how keepsakes lose their significance once separated from their original owners. By manipulating old family photographs she finds online and integrating patterns from her Polish upbringing, Karolina seeks to redefine their meaning. As their latest owner, Karolina forges a new relationship with these once-anonymous images.
Marcelina Amelia’s art is an extension of herself—a deeply personal journey through transformation, from womanhood to motherhood. Her pieces are imbued with symbols, objects, and bodies, reflecting her healing process, self-acceptance, and the nurturing love for her inner child.
Photographs by Joanna Wierzbicka
Marcelina Amelia is a versatile artist whose creative journey spans a multitude of mediums, from painting, print, textile, and photography to installation, video, and performance art. Born in Częstochowa, Poland, in 1989, Marcelina's artistic education took her from the Jacek Malczewski School of Fine Arts to the University of Westminster in London. Her work explores a kaleidoscope of themes, drawing from her Polish heritage, folklore, and experiences of migration. Marcelina's art also delves into the realms of feminism, motherhood, mental health, dreams, and women's rights,
serving as a profound reflection of the human experience. With an unwavering dedication to unveiling the hidden narratives often shrouded in silence, Marcelina draws inspiration from personal stories and collective memory. In response to Poland's tumultuous political climate, she co-founded Grupa Łono (Womb Collective), a sanctuary for free expression and empathy.
Anna Samoylova is a London-based Russian artist working across painting, embroidery, textile sculpture, and installation. Her practice delves into feminism, motherhood, and cultural identity. Exhibiting internationally in cities like Dubai, Berlin, and Moscow, her work explores adaptation and self-discovery, reflecting her journey of cultural preservation and openness to new experiences. Anna Samoylova studied at prestigious institutions, including the British Higher School of Arts & Design and the Moscow Academic Art College, with international experience at the Paris College of Art and the School of Visual Arts in New York. Her work has been showcased in major solo and group exhibitions, such as False Milk at MMoMA in Moscow, Pole at Haze Gallery in Berlin, and Zug Zwang at Foundry in Dubai, reflecting her global artistic presence.
Anna Pakosz is a painter whose work combines instinctive gestures with figurative imagery, fostering a deeply personal dialogue on themes of freedom, intimacy, and connection. She is especially interested in the organic process through which colour and form develop, starting with an initial, unplanned gesture that gradually reveals its potential. This evolution mirrors her emotional and psychological landscape, inviting viewers to engage in a shared experience characterised by rawness and authenticity. In June 2024, Pakosz completed the 18-month Tracey Emin Artist Residency program in Margate, UK, a pivotal moment in her artistic development. She is currently pursuing an MA in Fine Art at City & Guilds of London Art School, where she continues to explore and expand her visual language, drawing from her experiences within various cultural contexts.
Karolina Zgłobicka, Polish artist based in Valencia, Spain explores themes of relocation, memory, and the everyday objects that anchor us to our personal histories. She earned her BA(Hons) in Fine Art from the Manchester School of Art, Manchester Metropolitan University, in 2015, following a Foundation Studies program at The Manchester College. She has been longlisted for Jackson’s Painting Prize in 2023 and featured in various editions of Arts In Square magazine. Karolina Zagłobicka has participated in The Other Art Fair organised by Saatchi Art, Beep Painting Biennale at Elysium Gallery, and The Manchester Contemporary. Her work has also been shortlisted for multiple awards, including the Royal Ulster Academy Annual Exhibition and the Secret Art Prize. Karolina Zagłobicka’s art reflects on the intricate relationship between cherished objects and the memories they evoke, prompting the viewer to reconsider their connection with the material world and the passage of time.