Paulina Kwietniewska is a Polish-born figurative artist working primarily in oil. Based between London and her hometown of Łódź, Poland, her practice is rooted in classical painting techniques and driven by a deep emotional connection to her subjects.

Largely self-taught, Paulina has developed her skills through numerous courses and workshops, including studies at the London Atelier of Representational Art. Her work centres on portraiture and everyday scenes, often featuring family and friends. Through a focus on atmosphere and subtle storytelling, she seeks to capture the quiet beauty of ordinary moments.

Drawing inspiration from literature, art history, and her own lived experience, Paulina fills sketchbooks with personal reflections, memories, and visual notes that evolve into larger, more complex works. In addition to her studio practice, she is also an experienced muralist and teaches portrait workshops.

Paulina was a semi-finalist in 2025 Sky Portrait Artist of the Year competition, where she won Episode 2 with her portrait of Turkish-British writer and activist, Elif Shafak.

 

Exhibitions:

• 2025 Marks of Reflection, group exhibition by Sky Portrait Artist of the Year 2025 semi-finalists, 16-21 December, Noho Gallery, 67 Great Titchfield Street, London, UK
• 2025 Summer Exhibition at the Gallery at Green and Stone, London, UK
• 2025 Shortlisted for tARTget art prize, Madrid, Spain
• 2025 Kobieca Strona Sztuki, deFabryka, Warsaw
• 2024 Royal Institute of oil Painters Annual Exhibition
• 2024 Lower Leigh Atelier Inaugural Exhibition, Wiltshire, UK
• 2024 Wyczolkowski Prize Exhibition, Galeria BWA, Bydgoszcz, Poland
• 2024 Society of Women Artists Annual Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London, UK
• 2024 - Chelsea Art Society, London, UK
• 2024 - Ravekjavik, Lodz, Poland - main cash price for mural 'Presence'
• 2024 MiniArtures, WG Gallery, Dordrecht, The Netherlands
• 2023, Grant Exhibition, Galleri Ramfjord, Oslo - 4th Price Honorable Mention
• 2022 ING Discerning Eye
• 2019, In The Studio, Mall Galleries - an exhibition of work by the In the Studio group of artists as part of Mall Galleries Education. Inspired by the Art Society model, the Federation of British Artists were equipping emerging talent with the tools, ideas and experiences to form their own collaborative art group. The 22 artists, all aged between 18 and 26, have collaborated as a group in creating this exhibition, sharing their own approaches on being an artist today.
• 2019, I long for a terrific disaster, solo show, Teatr Nowy, Lodz
• 2017 Left Overs, 198 Gallery London
• 2016 Out of Sight, Solo exhibition at Lower Eastside Deli, London
• 2014, group exhibition at Fish Island Labs
• 2013, Open Exhibition, Lodz Arts Centre, Poland
• 2013, Otwarta Ksiega group exhibition, Strzminski Art Academy, Lodz, Poland

Selected publications:

• Pismo. Magazyn Opinii 2/23
• Interview for Vogue Polska 2/21
• Wildling magazine, issues 5 and 6
• The Fourth Trimester, Issue 3
• The Art of Motherhood by Mere Soeur