Julia Polonski is a British artist making abstract and figurative work in painting and drawing. Combining an expressive handling of paint with an observational drawing practice, she uses her interests in cloth and sculpture as catalysts for making work exploring “spatial identity”.
In her large-scale charcoal and pencil drawings Polonski looks at cloth as a document that can hold the narrative of a body; a document that can be read as a map of physical occupation, human experience and personal history. These layered drawings look at disrupted patterning, stains and worn cloth as signs to be read as evidence of the body’s presence.
Her most recent paintings combine cloth imagery with the portrayal of the single figure. Integrating both figurative and abstract elements, her subjects are placed in visually ambiguous spaces that evoke elusive elements of the natural world.
Julia Polonski BA (Hons), MAFA Born 1957 Leicestershire UK
Qualifications
2001 - 03 MA Fine Art: Drawing Wimbledon, University of the Arts London
1976 - 79 BA Hons Visual Communication Brighton Polytechnic, Sussex
1975 - 76 Foundation Studies Leicester Polytechnic
Selected Exhibitions
2024 John Ruskin Prize Trinity Buoy Wharf, London
2023 Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize 23 London, and touring UK
2023 Chaiya Art Awards “Awe and Wonder” OXO Tower Wharf and Bargehouse Gallery, London’s South Bank
2022 Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize 22 London, and touring UK; Willis Museum/Sainsbury Gallery Basingstoke and Art House Jersey
2022 Weaving Wood and Stone Fine Foundation Gallery, Durlston, Dorset
2021 CONNECT The Vanner Gallery, Salisbury
2020 The Castlegate Prize Castlegate House Gallery, Cumbria
2019 Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize 19 London and touring UK: The Salisbury Museum and The Gallery De Montfort University Leicester
2019 DRAWN The Young Gallery, Salisbury City Art Galleries, Wiltshire
2019 The Royal Society of Portrait Painters (RP) Annual Exhibition Mall Galleries, London
2019 Julia Polonski: Works Barn Gallery, Salisbury, Wiltshire
2015 Drawings 98TBR Gallery, London
2015 WID Exhibition Southampton City Art Gallery
2014 Works on Paper Science Museum London
2013 Art of Making Atrium Gallery, Bournemouth University
2013 National Open Art Exhibition Winners Exhibition Pallant House Chichester, RCA London and Minerva Theatre Chichester
2012 Evolution: Frink and the next generation Bournemouth University Co-curated by J Herring (BU Curator) and A Ratuszniak (Curator of the Frink Estate)
2010 Bournemouth University Art Loan Collection BU Bournemouth
2009 Julia Polonski: Drawings Atrium Gallery, Bournemouth University
2008 Julia Polonski: New Paintings Barn Gallery, Salisbury, Wiltshire
2007 Art in Action: Drawing Waterperry, Oxford
2006 Jerwood Drawing Prize Jerwood Space London and touring UK; Cheltenham, Birmingham, Bury St Edmunds, Durham, Cardiff
2005 Julia Polonski: New Drawings Barn Gallery, Salisbury, Wiltshire
2004 Hunting Art Prizes Royal College of Art, London
2004 Julia Polonski Body: a sense of place ArtSway, Sway, Hampshire
2003 Common Ground ArtSway, Sway, Hampshire
2002 Contemporary Drawing Centre for Drawing, Wimbledon, London
2002 ING and the Discerning Eye ING Barings, London Wall, London
2002 Julia Polonski: Human Form Maltby Contemporary Art, Winchester
2002 Three Artists Salisbury Arts Centre, Wiltshire
1997 Gallery Artists Hicks Gallery Wimbledon, London
1996 20th Century British Drawings Wimbledon Fine Art Gallery, London
1987 Julia Polonski: New Works Putney School of Art, London
1985 St Ives Society of Artists Penwith Gallery, Cornwall
1984 St Ives Society of Artists Penwith Gallery, Cornwall
1981 Julia Polonski: Figure Haymarket Theatre, Leicester
1980 Return of 3 Grande Parade Gallery, Brighton
1979 Midland Open 25 IKON, Birmingham
Awards
2023 Oppenheim-John Downes Memorial Trust Award
2023 The Chaiya Art Award 2023
2022 Oppenheim-John Downes Memorial Trust Award
2021 Research and Development Award, Arts Council England
2021 Oppenheim-John Downes Memorial Trust Award
2019 Oppenheim-John Downes Memorial Trust Award
2014 BU Artist/Maker of the Year Curator's Award
2014 Oppenheim-John Downes Memorial Trust Award
2013 The SOUTHWOOD AWARD, The National Open Art Competition
2009 Research and Development Award, Arts Council England
2007 Invited Artist and Award winner Art in Action Waterperry, Oxford
2003 Winner of ArtSway Open Exhibition ArtSway, Sway, Hampshire
2003 Winner of the Wimbledon School of Art Postgraduate Drawing Prize
2001-3 Rootstein Hopkins Foundation Award
2000 Arts and humanities Research Board Award (Offered but unable to accept)
1981 Individual Artist Development Grant, Midlands Arts Council, UK
COLLECTIONS
Drawings and Paintings are held in private collections
Bournemouth University Permanent Collection and Art Loan Collection