MUNTHE ART MONDAY: AGNIESZKA STOPYRA

Please introduce yourself and tell us about what you do.

At this point in my life, the term “seeker” is close to my heart. And I think that’s the kind of artist I am today: a seeker, exactly. On this personal journey of mine, I focus on observing conceptual art, the idea that the concept can be more important than the medium and representation. But it’s also a constant return to the incredible world of the surrealists, whose juggling of perspectives, reversal of meanings, and use of symbols resonate with me. I still reach for line drawing, collage—perhaps more often for a more abstract, implicit language. It feels a bit like standard methods aren’t for me, while at the same time discovering something innovative in the language of art requires dedicating my own time, emotions, and effort.

Agnieszka is wearing Silane T-shirt and Shimo pants.

Can you name some other female (artist) that inspires you and explain why they do so?

I am undoubtedly drawn to sensitive people, highly emotional individuals, and unconventional figures whose work reflects their personal struggles, fears, and small acts of self-destruction. I deeply value the work of Diane Arbus for her unique perspective on marginalized and excluded social groups, as well as her sensitivity and attentiveness to humanity. I can say the same about Frida Kahlo - I don’t particularly like her art, but the way she pushed through life despite immense pain and suffering is incredibly inspiring to me, much like Marina Abramović. There is an incredible strength and creativity radiating from these women.

When I momentarily tire of art, I obsessively return to Susan Sontag, a woman with a mind as sharp as a razor. Sontag has an incredible talent for seeing the world in a completely different way, which I find extraordinarily new, inspiring, and refreshing.

I am drawn to Patti Smith, the magical Patti Smith, who turns interactions with small, everyday things into rituals. It feels like she re-enchants the things we no longer notice, and she does it phenomenally. And finally, I must express my immense respect for all those women who fought for visibility in a male-dominated world - Lee Miller, Camille Claudel, Françoise Gilot - all those wives, lovers, and partners of artists who were never fully allowed to shine simply because they lived in times that didn’t favor them. It’s not that there weren’t great women artists. The world simply wasn’t on their side.

What has been the most challenging aspect of being a woman in the arts?

Precisely what I mentioned earlier - the appreciation of the times we, as women artists, live in today. Times of relative freedom and visibility, though we shouldn’t get too comfortable in them. In a world where so many things have a political flavor, it’s worth using our voice, reach, and resources—simply to ensure we don’t lose them.

Agnieszka is wearing Silane T-shirt and Shimo pants.

Can you explain more about how being a woman has affected your career?

That’s a difficult question because it’s easy to fall into certain cultural patterns or stereotypes. I’ll try to answer it simply from my own perspective, without emphasizing my gender - if that’s even possible.

I think that a kind of prelude to my artistic work has always been a deep sensitivity, which helped me notice the subtleties of the world, human emotionality, and introspection. It compelled me to question things, to keep asking questions, to feel discomfort, and to recognize nuances that I transformed into the language of art. I often hear from viewers that my art contains a great deal of this sensitivity, subtlety, and sensuality - qualities that are likely visible in my choice of subject matter, but also in how I use colors, combine forms, and shift perspectives.

In general, I believe that art is a language, and it ultimately speaks volumes about its creator. It’s a kind of wordless communication, and the figure of a woman - with her full spectrum of emotions and fears - has always been present in my work, whether consciously or unconsciously. At first, this appeared through nudes and fashion illustrations, and later it emerged in various campaigns dedicated to body positivity and menstruation.

Agnieszka is wearing Silane T-shirt and Shimo pants.

What would you like people to notice in your artwork?

I am certainly drawn to re-enchanting everyday, ordinary things—those unnoticed because they are passed by each day—and elevating them, restoring their visibility, while simultaneously regaining attentiveness to the world and to myself. I was fascinated by Weston’s peppers—those surreal, emotionally charged objects that Weston presented in such an unexpected way. But I also like to delve into the uncomfortable corners, to impose—more or less subtly—certain reflections on the viewer and myself. I appreciate when art is uncomfortable because only such an approach drives growth.

Moreover, in a world where many things are not granted forever—women’s rights, voice, freedom—it’s important to remember this, to celebrate and cherish it.

Agnieszka is wearing Space top and Shimo pants.