OleK

olek's curriculum vitae
find olek on facebook!
follow olek on twitter!
subcribe to newsletter!

olek@agataolek.com
artist's statement . bio

"I do not expect to be a mother, but I do expect to die alone"

My first solo exhibition in the UK, presented at Tony's Gallery in London.

Opening reception Thursday 26th January, 6-9pm
Exhibition continues 27th January - 23rd March 2012

Even if you are a little far away, cross to the other side of the pond and come to see how I have created a crocheted mixed media sculptural environment to tell a story.
Dress to the occasion. Don't bring any sharp objects.
...and if you ask me how long it took me to crochet it, you'll have to bring a bottle of Polish vodka to unravel the secret.

Read official PDF press release here

Tony's Gallery
68 Sclater st | London |E1 6HR
0203 5565201
info@tonysgallery.com
www.tonysgallery.com
27th January - 23rd March 2012
Opening Thursday 26th January, 6-9pm

Finding the Gallery:
BY BUS
to Shoreditch High St. routes: 48, 149, 8 and 388

BY TUBE
Nearest stations Shoreditch High St, Liverpool Street, Aldgate East, Old Street.

BY TRAIN to Shoreditch High St. or Old Street stations.

I have been recently listed in the Artinfo article See the Women Who Shook Up the Art World in 2011 alongside Anita Zabludowicz, Marina Abramovic and Mera Rubell and have also been listed in The 25 most important artists of 2011.

Next projects

The Fashion Barcelona Fair The Brandery, in collaboration with Concepta, Barcelona, Spain, 27th to 29th of January

Altamura, Bari, Italy, 2nd to 29th February

Synthetic Nature, two person show with David Peterson, Krause Gallery, NYC, 15th March

Intervention and lecture at TEDxWarsaw, Poland, 22nd of March

Katowice Street Art Festival, Poland, 20th to 29th of April

NOVA 2012 festival in Brazil: SESC Pompeia, São Paulo, 9th to 14th of May CentoeQuatro Cultural Centre, Belo Horizonte, 15th to 20th of May

Two person show, Flanders Gallery, Raleigh, NC, 1st of June

40 under 40, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC, 20th of July to 3rd February 2013

Olek crochets Poland.. finally!

first stop: NO Women, NO Art Festival in Poznan
17-22 Nov, 2011

Second stop: "Otulina", a group exhibition in Kordegarda Gallery, Warsaw
opening reception Dec 1st, 2011

Jonathan LeVine Gallery is bringing my work to SCOPE-Miami, Booth E09

November 29-December 4, 2011
Tues 11/29, 4-8pm | Wed 11/30-Sat 12/3, 11am-7pm | Sun 12/4, 11am-6pm

Jonathan LeVine Gallery is presenting new works by artists Aakash Nihalani, Jason DeCaires Taylor, Olek and WK at SCOPE-Miami Contemporary Art Fair, from November 29-December 4, 2011, during Art Basel Miami Beach. Placing a focus on public art for this program, the gallery will present a series of works that highlight a diverse range of distinct styles, cultural perspectives and unconventional mediums. Each of the four artists selected represent fresh directions in creating work in public space through their innovative vision and inventive use of materials. Photography documenting their interventional imagery, sculpture, and performances convey the transformative effect their work has on its surrounding environment.

"I'm still proud to say what I do for a living"

In support of those who believe in making changes!

Olek and Swoon on PBS!

Many thanks to all who joined me in August for the opening reception of my solo show at Jonathan LeVine Gallery.

The exhibition has received terrific response. I am extremely pleased to share a selection of recent press coverage on the PRESS page of the gallery website
including multiple reviews in such publications as: ARTINFO,The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek/The Daily Beast, The Village Voice,CBS News, Hi-Fructose and more.

Additionally, there are two new profile videos on Olek by FRIENDS WE LOVE and VIMBY.

and if you speak Spanish, here is something for you.

Videos of Olek's recent actions:

Olek on CBS News

Olek covers WALK MAN by Scott Taylor, NYC

New York Magazine about this action: Tompkins Square Park Sculpture Gets Installed, Crocheted, and Defaced in the Space of Three Days

Crochet Grand Piano & Yarninja, NYC

Crocheted object nr 1, Poland

Working Woman in Red: A Portrait

artist statement

A loop after a loop. Hour after hour my madness becomes crochet. Life and art are inseparable. The movies I watch while crocheting influence my work, and my work dictates the films I select. I crochet everything that enters my space. Sometimes it's a text message, a medical report, found objects. There is the unraveling, the ephemeral part of my work that never lets me forget about the limited life of the art object and art concept. What do I intend to reveal? You have to pull the end of the yarn and unravel the story behind the crochet.

My work changes from place to place. I studied the science of culture. With a miner's work ethic, I long to delve deeper and deeper into my investigations. My art was a development that took me away from industrial, close-minded Silesia, Poland. It has always sought to bring color and life, energy, and surprise to the living space. My goal is to produce new work and share it with the public. I intend to take advantage of living in NYC with various neighborhoods and, with my actions, create a feedback to the economic and social reality in our community.