Agata

Borowska

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Agata Borowska’s collages speak with a quiet yet profound eloquence, where the interplay of color and form becomes a delicate meditation on the transient nature of life. Her use of minimalistic mostly white substrates contrasts beautifully with the vivid, almost sculptural presence of the abstract elements she assembles, creating a visual tension that mirrors the impermanence she embraces. Each piece becomes an intimate act of renewal, where fragments of the past are reconstituted to form new, hopeful narratives.

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I most often express myself through the technique of analog collage, a method that demands patience and discourages haste. It’s a form of meditation for me, facilitating an internal dialogue. The process of creating collages is a continuous inquiry of ‘what’s next?’. My inspiration typically stems from the color and shape of the materials I work with. I tend to create centrally situated abstract objects on white substrates (A4 and A3 are my favorite). I like the cleanness of that form. Recently I have started to experiment with colorful substrates which immediately give the work specific character.

I would say that the most accurate description for me is embracing impermanence. Collaging helps me to accept that everything changes and flows. And when going through the process of collage creation I also learn that the change can bring hope and be invigorating. That I don’t have to stick to the familiar patterns or old habits. That I can try to do something in a completely different way. And start something new literally from the scraps. So I guess collage can be a tool to rewrite personal and collective narratives.

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I am driven by the need to assemble different scraps or cuttings into a completely new and very unreal image, an abstract object, which for me is the end of my creative process and for the viewer the beginning of the inner journey. I think there is no one theme which I’d like to communicate although it seems that boats, ships and islands are keep coming back. Which I interpret as my deep need to ‘sail away’ from a humdrum of everyday life.

I think that the presence of boats, ships and islands - things that remind me of vacations, the sea, sandy beaches, and travels and adventures - started appearing during a time of significant changes in my professional life, time when I needed to make important decisions. I had to create a safe and free from pressure space in my mind to do it.  It’s clear to me now that they reflected my need for having an inner, solitary journey. I think that I kind of escaped from reality. So yes, my subconscious definitely comes to play in my work. But sometimes it’s not so obvious to me. I need time to recognise that. I just trust the process.

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I usually work with various types of magazines, newspapers, books, photos - new and vintage ones. My friends and family collect unusual and interesting papers for me from all over the world. And I buy some of it at antique fairs. Sometimes I like to use self-made papers - covered with ink, acrylic and watercolor paints.

I begin with selecting two or three paper elements that will serve as the foundation for further exploration. Sometimes, individual elements quickly find their counterparts and begin to coexist, while at other times, they require a moment to harmonize with each other. This part is often the most challenging and time-consuming. I like to leave arranged compositions unglued for a while, usually for a night since I like to work in the evening. And, in the morning with a cup of coffee I’m checking whether the arrangements still work for me. If yes – it’s time for gluing. If no – well, it’s time for changes, and sometimes the story begins again.. I try to be flexible in my work. Generally I trust in the process.

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Agata Borowska (b. 1974) is a Warsaw-based visual artist specializing in analog collage, painting, and drawing. With a background in administration, she transitioned into the arts, completing formal studies in design, painting, and modern art history at institutions in Warsaw and Łódź. Her collage practice, rooted in patience and introspection, explores themes of memory, connection, and transformation, assembling disparate fragments into cohesive narratives.

A finalist for the Luxembourg Art Prize (2024) and YICCA Prize (2023/24), her work has been exhibited internationally, including solo shows in Poland and group exhibitions in Berlin and Milan. Her collages, recently featured in Suboart Magazine, offer viewers an open-ended journey into abstraction, emotion, and subtle storytelling.

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