Paulina Olowska takes inspiration from Eastern European history and artistic practices as much as from American popular culture, advertising and fashion. The result is a unique contemporary visual language that equally melds memory, Socialist symbols, mass media, and more. Driven by the belief that “art can change the world,” Olowska’s artworks are often centered on female protagonists depicted smoking and/or drinking, evoking past nostalgia within an imagined present. Working in collage, painting, photography, sculpture, film and performance, Olowska’s artmaking process is as unencumbered as her embrace of diverse interests.
Craig Robins was introduced to Paulina Olowska’s work by collector and museum director Karola Krauss. Drawn to Olowska’s creative energy, Robins began collecting her work. This exhibition is a selection of these acquisition highlights spanning almost two decades. Craig Robins has defined his collection through a long-term investment in the artists he believes in, collecting their work over years and in depth.
