Anna Zuzanna Lasik: Weaving Memory, Material, and Emotion Across Contemporary Art

In a contemporary art landscape increasingly shaped by hybridity and cross-disciplinary approaches, Anna Zuzanna Lasik stands out for the physical and emotional density of her work. Based in Warsaw, Poland, Lasik has developed a practice that dissolves boundaries between painting, textile, and object, inviting viewers not only to look but to sense, remember, and reflect. Her recent inclusion in a curated European publishing initiative by Culturale Lab places her work within a broader international context, connecting her practice to a diverse network of contemporary artists across Europe.

Introduction – Setting the Scene

Lasik’s work does not sit comfortably within a single category. Acrylic painting merges with loom weaving, hand embroidery extends beyond the canvas, and collage and assemblage introduce depth and tactility. This layered approach mirrors the conceptual foundation of her practice: an interest in emotions, memory, ecology, and the structures - both visible and invisible - that shape human experience. From her studio in Warsaw, Lasik continues to explore how materials can carry meaning and how form itself can provoke reflection.

A Professional Identity That Stands Apart

Born in Warsaw in 1984 into a family deeply rooted in the visual arts, Lasik grew up surrounded by creative practice. Her father was a professor of painting and drawing at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, while her mother worked as a graphic designer for Polish Television. Art was not an abstract concept but a daily presence, shaping her understanding of visual language from an early age.

Her formal education reflects this continuity. Lasik completed her bachelor’s degree in painting at the Higher School of Art in Warsaw, specializing in costume and stage props, and later earned a master’s degree in clothing design from the Higher School of Art and Design in Łódź. These parallel paths - fine art and design - remain visible in her work today, particularly in her sensitivity to structure, surface, and spatial relationships.

Vision, Method, and Approach

At the core of Lasik’s practice is the combination of media. Acrylic on canvas often serves as a starting point, but the work rarely remains flat. Hand embroidery, weaving, sewing, and assemblage push the surface outward, transforming paintings into reliefs and sometimes into objects that occupy space in two or three dimensions. This approach reflects her interest in encouraging touch and physical engagement, even when direct contact is not possible.

Emotion plays a central role. Lasik frequently explores the color palettes associated with emotional states, using contrast, density, and repetition to suggest tension, vulnerability, or concealment. One recurring motif in her work is the mask. For Lasik, the mask functions as a symbol of what individuals choose to hide: fear, fragility, or involuntary expressions that reveal inner reactions. References to carnival traditions, commedia dell’arte, and influences from various cultures coexist with more contemporary concerns related to politics, religion, ecology, and landscape.

Ambiguity is not something Lasik avoids. On the contrary, she considers it essential. By leaving space for interpretation, she allows viewers to encounter their own experiences within the work, transforming observation into a personal exchange rather than a fixed narrative.

Participation in a Culturale Lab Project

Lasik discovered the opportunity to participate in a Culturale Lab publishing project through social media. Her decision to join was driven by a clear intention: to present her work to a wider audience beyond local and national exhibition contexts. The project she joined, 100 Artists of Europe, is a curated editorial publication that brings together contemporary artists working across different disciplines and geographies.

Rather than functioning as a promotional platform, the initiative operates as a cultural archive, documenting the diversity of current artistic practices in Europe. For Lasik, being part of this project represents more than visibility. It is an opportunity to engage with a global community of artists and to contribute her own perspective on what contemporary art can be and how it can communicate.

An International Context

Although firmly rooted in Warsaw, Lasik’s work has long moved beyond national borders. Her mixed media pieces have been presented in solo and group exhibitions in Poland and abroad, and her practice continues to evolve through international exchange. Participation in a European-wide publishing project situates her work within a broader dialogue, one that reflects the interconnected nature of today’s art world.

This international dimension is set to expand further. Lasik is scheduled to take part in an exhibition in Turkey and continues to be active in exhibitions across Poland. Alongside her visual art practice, she is also designing and creating costumes for upcoming theatre productions, reinforcing the interdisciplinary character of her work.

Looking Ahead

For Lasik, 2026 is shaping up to be an intensive year. Exhibitions, theatre collaborations, and ongoing studio work converge in a period of sustained creative activity. Yet her outlook remains open rather than definitive. She expresses a hope that art will find its audience in all its forms, resisting marginalization and becoming an integral part of everyday life - not only for artists, but for viewers as well.

Her closing message reflects the ethos that runs throughout her practice: art as a shared space of encounter, imagination, and emotional recognition. By combining materials, crossing disciplines, and embracing ambiguity, Anna Zuzanna Lasik continues to build a body of work that invites engagement on both sensory and reflective levels.

Contact & Links

Website / Portfolio:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anna.z.lasik
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annazuzannalasik
Culturale Lab: https://culturalelab.com/