Irena Jurek
Acrylic and mixed media on paper
30 x 22 in (framed)
In her work Irena Jurek makes no distinction between fantasy and reality. Riffing off of the language of fairy tales, cartoons and clichés, she creates scenarios in which a few things are actually as they appear to be using images that are immediately familiar and recognizable. Her works draw from the fascination of the contrast between our personas and the societal masks we all wear, and the more sincere “face” of our instincts and desires.
Irena Jurek was born in Krakow, Poland. She has had solo shows with David Shelton Gallery, Houston, TX, Romeo Gallery, NYC, Jeff Bailey Gallery in Hudson, New York, and with Zurcher Gallery, Paris. Her work has been included in group exhibitions at The Breeder, 0-0LA, MASS Gallery, Know More Games, 247365, Left Field, and others. She received her BFA in 2004 from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and her MFA in 2008 from the Cranbrook Academy of Art, Michigan. She lives and works in New York.