ARTIST STATEMENT
My recent body of work centers on the pillow—an object commonly associated with softness, comfort, rest, and safety. I challenge these expectations by recreating pillows in hard materials such as metal and ceramic. While the imagery references softness, decoration, and domesticity, the rigid materials create a contradiction that invites viewers to question what truly feels safe, familiar, and comforting.
This work developed from experiences of broken trust. The pillow, once a symbol of security and refuge, becomes a metaphor for vulnerability and the emotional weight carried into our most intimate moments, particularly while we sleep. Through layered ceramic surfaces, color, and tactile details, I amplify the emotional tension between comfort and unease. Each piece invites viewers to slow down, engage with its textures by transforming familiar objects into unexpected materials.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Victoria Kowalczyk (b.1973, IL) is a Chicago-based artist specializing in sculpture and oil painting. She earned her Master’s degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Victoria’s diverse career includes developing educational programs for museums, a visiting artist for Chicago’s schools and running her own import company. Throughout her professional journey, she has consistently pursued her passion for art. Her current sculpture work explores the theme of polarity, skillfully uniting contrasting elements through various mediums.
© Victoria Kowalczyk