About Jolanta Johnsson

Why do I make art?

Art is my language of communication. Through it, I express emotions that I believe are universal. Visual art allows me to give these emotions a lasting form, embedding them in a painting that can exist beyond me. When the work reaches the viewer, it enters their space and carries with it what I have placed inside.
My practice is an invitation to share and move through landscapes—both real and inner. I work with landscape and abstraction as a way of offering beauty, but I am equally drawn to themes that extend beyond aesthetics and reflect the human experience. This is where figurative painting emerges in my work. The relationship between humanity and landscape—human presence within space—is the central focus of my art.

Who is my art for?

My art is for those who respond to my expression—viewers who wish to live with my work in their homes, allowing it to communicate what I intended to say through it. I never want to say just one thing. I want my work to remain open, ambiguous, and capable of evoking a wide range of emotions. Life is full of nuance, not certainty, and my audience is made up of people who understand and embrace that.

I create paintings, graphics, drawings, and sculptures, with two dominant themes: landscape (in a broad sense) and the human figure. My artistic language can be described as semi-abstract. In my landscapes, I pursue a harmony of form and color, often resulting in abstract compositions. When depicting the human figure, I simplify it into flat silhouettes, altering proportions and shapes to convey the complexity and depth of the human psyche. Through this approach, I aim to reveal the drama of human existence, a drama that coexists with beauty and harmony.

My work stems from an inner need to express my belief that humans are ultimately a mystery to themselves, continually seeking answers to the meaning of life. Life unfolds between two poles—good and evil—within the irreversible flow of time, and these profound themes shape my art. My personal experience of the significant social and political changes I have witnessed in my native Poland has heightened my sensitivity to human interactions as sources of both good and evil. At the same time, I wish to celebrate humanity as a being capable of appreciating and reflecting the beauty of the landscape.

Oil on canvas is the primary medium of my work. On paper, I employ a mixed technique, combining watercolor with collage and monotype. In graphic art, I embrace experimentation, remaining open to the surprises that arise from the printing process, often producing small editions.

I am inspired by artists who communicate through tangible objects—paintings, prints, sculptures—and who have developed a recognisable, personal visual language. For me, this goes beyond mere “style” and becomes a means of expressing individual truth. The authenticity of a work forms a bridge between the artist and the viewer. I aim to invite viewers into a dialogue, as my works are intentionally ambiguous and open to interpretation.

The future of my practice lies in constant creation, driven by ideas, plans, and the unexpected twists that emerge along the way. Each completed work becomes an autonomous entity, requiring even the artist to engage with it on its own terms.

The themes of humanity and nature will continue to guide me, though the visual forms will evolve and transform, shaped by the dynamic realities of the modern world.