Anna Wypych, Beautiful Bizarre Artist Directory member, provides some fascinating insights into her practice and experience as a figurative painter, as she responds to the questions below:
- If you had to choose only three words that you feel describe your work, what would they be? And why?
- Many things inundate our daily lives. What role do you feel art and the artist still have in today’s society?
- If you could collaborate with any artist, dead or alive, who would it be with and why?
- What do you think is the single most important piece of advice you have been given as an artist?
If you had to choose only three words that you feel describe your work, what would they be? And why?
If I had to choose only three words to describe my work, they would be “emotive,” “metaphorical,” and “transformative.” Emotive – because my art is deeply rooted in emotional expression, whether through portraits of strong women or symbolic explorations of freedom, strength, or reflection. Metaphorical – because I often use visual language to suggest deeper meanings, drawing on poetry, philosophy, and personal reflection to communicate complex ideas. I read a lot and this naturally evolves with my art. Transformative – because my artistic journey evolves continuously, embracing change and transformation both in form and in content, echoing the philosophical notions that inspire me.
Many things inundate our daily lives. What role do you feel art and the artist still have in today’s society?
Art is to society what yoga is to the body. It is not merely a set of exercises, but a means of communication with one’s own body and a way of understanding it more deeply. It is different for everyone, depending on individual needs. Yoga regulates not only the body, but also the mind. In much the same way, art helps society to better understand itself.
Art has a positive impact on social, emotional, and mental well-being – it helps regulate emotions, provides relaxation, and fosters reflection. At the same time, it inspires and promotes growth by asking difficult questions and drawing attention to what is often uncomfortable or overlooked. However, for art to truly fulfill these roles, it must remain in harmony – with both its audience and its creator. Forcing it or using it instrumentally leads nowhere.
If you could collaborate with any artist, dead or alive, who would it be with and why?
If I had the opportunity to meet someone for a creative exchange, I wouldn’t choose an artist – I would choose a scientist. My choice would be Marie Skłodowska-Curie. I’ve read about her and know she had an incredibly open mind, and her achievements go far beyond what is commonly known from history. Not only did she win the Nobel Prize twice, but she also made a significant contribution during World War I. She was the one who conceived the idea of the so-called “Petites Curies” – mobile X-ray units – and she didn’t stop at inventing them; she organized their use directly on the front lines.
I also know that she had a rare gift for teaching. She could truly inspire people, recognize their potential, and make them believe in themselves. Many of her students, and people around her, went on to achieve extraordinary things. She was literally surrounded by Nobel prize winners, this is not a coincidence but her teaching influence. I’m deeply curious about how she did it – how she was able to see what no one else saw, even when everyone was looking at the same thing.
What do you think is the single most important piece of advice you have been given as an artist?
One of the most important pieces of advice I’ve received on my artistic path was: “Allow yourself to change.” At first glance, it might sound obvious, but in reality — especially in the art world — there is often tremendous pressure to be consistent, recognizable, to have a “signature style.” Yet I have always felt that art — like life — follows natural cycles: transformation, evolution, and quiet shifts in internal balance.
This advice helped me accept that creativity doesn’t have to be linear. It allowed me to follow what felt important to me at a given moment — even if that meant a radical change in form, subject, or mood. There were times when I painted portraits of women with intense gazes, full of inner strength and determination. And there were times when I needed to immerse myself in almost abstract, nearly metaphysical, vibrating spaces.
Change, to me, is not a departure from identity — quite the opposite — it is a part of it. Thanks to change, I can be honest with myself and with the moment I am in. Each series, each painting is a record of artistic searching. Change is not a whim, but a process. Sometimes quiet and barely noticeable, sometimes intense. But always — authentic.
What’s interesting is that in my personal life, I love routine. I like doing things the same way, in the same order, and changes tend to irritate me. A bit of a paradox. For example, I always walk to the studio at the same time, along the same route. Once inside, I follow a set sequence of little rituals — I hang my keys, place my bag exactly where I like it, and everything has to have its order and place. But when I sit down at the easel — a different kind of magic happens every time.
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