Joanna Ambroz, Doctor of Arts
Unspoken meanings and embarrassing thoughts. I work in painting, art research, poster design, and books in a total sense. My works explore taboo topics, relationships, pleasures, and the discomforts that arise from confronting oneself. Simplicity and conciseness are crucial to me: to express profound ideas through metaphor. The essence.
I defended my Ph.D. at the Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice (2023) with a dissertation titled Come, I will Show You My Knives. A Method for Creating Reflective Books. The practical component, the book ome, I will Show You My Knives, has been added to the collection of the National Museum in Poznań, honoured in the Most Beautiful Polish Book of the Year 2023 competition, and presented at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp. I completed my Master’s studies with the highest distinction and the Rector’s Honours (2018) and my Bachelor’s degree with the highest distinction and the Rector’s Medal (2016), both at the Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice in the Graphic Design Department. My Bachelor’s diploma work, the book Cut – The Hair of the Polish Folks, was published by BOSZ Publishing (2017) and included in the collection of the National Museum in Poznań (2023). I was featured in the Young Art Compass (2022). My work has been showcased in Teleexpress, Label Magazine, and Radio Trójka, among others. I live in Warsaw.
I see my activities as a research process where recognizing patterns in my own behaviour or in the behaviour of those close to me—often inhibiting and destructive—serves as a catalyst to explore new areas, both visual and conceptual. Through examining these observations, I try to confront uncomfortable behaviours and replace them with those that foster self-development and growth. Instead of focusing on aesthetic or formal aspects, I prioritize reflection on content and meaning, turning it into a tool for social and intellectual critique. In this context, artistic creation serves a research function for me, acting as a way of asking questions rather than providing ready-made answers.
In my work, I use two colours: red and blue. Red represents awareness, tension, temperament, and conflict. Blue symbolizes the subconscious, harmony, reflection, and mourning. I am intrigued by the interaction between these colours and the contrast that creates an exchange between the intensity of experiences and the compulsion to block them.
For inquiries, please contact:
ambrozjoanna@gmail.com
ambrozjoanna@gmail.com
Works in collections
‣ National Museum in Poznan, PL (2021, 2022, 2023)
‣ Poster Museum in Wilanów, PL (2019)
‣ Poster Museum in Wilanów, PL (2019)
Education
2018–2023
Doctoral Studies, Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice, Poland
2016–2018
Honours, Master's degree, Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice, Poland
2012–2016
Honours with medal, Bachelor's degree, Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice, Poland
2006–2012,
Jacek Malczewski's School of Fine Art, Czestochowa, Poland
2013
Sculpture fellowship, Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Czech Republic
2011
Art Scholarship as part of a European Union Program – Leonardo Da Vinci, Portugal
Doctoral Studies, Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice, Poland
2016–2018
Honours, Master's degree, Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice, Poland
2012–2016
Honours with medal, Bachelor's degree, Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice, Poland
2006–2012,
Jacek Malczewski's School of Fine Art, Czestochowa, Poland
2013
Sculpture fellowship, Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Czech Republic
2011
Art Scholarship as part of a European Union Program – Leonardo Da Vinci, Portugal
Selected international group exhibitions:
‣ Eve Leibe Gallery, London, Eve Presents Number Three, 2023
‣ The 8th DAEJEON International Art Show 2022, South Korea, 2022
‣ Women in poster, China, poster, 2022.
‣ 2nd International Poster Triennial in Cyprus, poster, Cyprus, 2022
‣ Bolivia International Poster Biennale "BICeBé", poster, Bolivia, 2021
‣ Das kleine Format, 11th Internationale Biennale der Miniaturen aus Tschenstocha, Galerie Brötzinger Art, Pforzheim-Brötzingen, paintig, Germany, 2021
‣ Meat Design Festival, Design out of the box, book,
Ostrava, Czech Republic, 2019
‣ Social Poster - New Polish Poster Exhibition 2019, Glasgow, United Kingdom, 2019.
‣ International Poster Trienale in Trnava, Slovakia, 2018.
‣ Ratata Festival, Exhibition of illustrations from the book "Empty Place at the Table", together with Joanna Concejo, Macerata, Italy, 2017.
‣ TYPHLO & TACTUS, final of the book competition for blind children, book "Feelings" France, 2017.
‣ Eve Leibe Gallery, London, Eve Presents Number Three, 2023
‣ The 8th DAEJEON International Art Show 2022, South Korea, 2022
‣ Women in poster, China, poster, 2022.
‣ 2nd International Poster Triennial in Cyprus, poster, Cyprus, 2022
‣ Bolivia International Poster Biennale "BICeBé", poster, Bolivia, 2021
‣ Das kleine Format, 11th Internationale Biennale der Miniaturen aus Tschenstocha, Galerie Brötzinger Art, Pforzheim-Brötzingen, paintig, Germany, 2021
‣ Meat Design Festival, Design out of the box, book,
Ostrava, Czech Republic, 2019
‣ Social Poster - New Polish Poster Exhibition 2019, Glasgow, United Kingdom, 2019.
‣ International Poster Trienale in Trnava, Slovakia, 2018.
‣ Ratata Festival, Exhibition of illustrations from the book "Empty Place at the Table", together with Joanna Concejo, Macerata, Italy, 2017.
‣ TYPHLO & TACTUS, final of the book competition for blind children, book "Feelings" France, 2017.
Selected solo exhibitions in Poland
‣Doesn't any burning issue affect your plans, your life or the planet?, Marszalkowska 18 Gallery, Warsaw, 19.10.2023–02.12.2023,
‣ Forum Patronite
Varso Place
Warsaw, 19.03.2022
‣ I don't love you, because you ate my cheesecake*.
Warszawa Powisle, Warsaw, 26.11.2021-6.02.2022
‣ When something is thought, it's as if it has already happened a little bit
Text for the exhibition: dr. hab Irma Kozina. prof ASP, Exhibition with catalog, OPK Gaude Mater, Czestochowa, 15.06–10.07.2019
‣ I ordered my tongue to nail the nails
PIK Gallery, Ostrów Cultural Center, Exhibition with catalog.
Ostrów Wielkopolski, 22.04.2021-5.06.2021
‣ Social poster and some insulting radicals
Melina Gallery
Gliwice, 22.11.2019-20.01.2020
‣ Shame – painting exhibition.
Sztuka Wyboru Gallery, Gdansk, 16-28.02.2019
Varso Place
Warsaw, 19.03.2022
‣ I don't love you, because you ate my cheesecake*.
Warszawa Powisle, Warsaw, 26.11.2021-6.02.2022
‣ When something is thought, it's as if it has already happened a little bit
Text for the exhibition: dr. hab Irma Kozina. prof ASP, Exhibition with catalog, OPK Gaude Mater, Czestochowa, 15.06–10.07.2019
‣ I ordered my tongue to nail the nails
PIK Gallery, Ostrów Cultural Center, Exhibition with catalog.
Ostrów Wielkopolski, 22.04.2021-5.06.2021
‣ Social poster and some insulting radicals
Melina Gallery
Gliwice, 22.11.2019-20.01.2020
‣ Shame – painting exhibition.
Sztuka Wyboru Gallery, Gdansk, 16-28.02.2019
‣ History of the Częstochowa Match Factory, a series of posters.
Iron Ore Museum, Railway Museum, Match Factory Museum (three exhibitions), Częstochowa 10.06.2017
‣ Cut – the hair of the Polish folks
KM 0 Gallery, Warsaw 27.05.2017-11.06.2017
‣ Cut - the hair of the Polish people
Pojedyncza Gallery, Krystyna Bochenek Institution of Culture.
Katowice 27.10.2016-9.11.2016
‣ Put together (Poukładane)
Off-Art Gallery, Czestochowa, 5-18.11.2015
Iron Ore Museum, Railway Museum, Match Factory Museum (three exhibitions), Częstochowa 10.06.2017
‣ Cut – the hair of the Polish folks
KM 0 Gallery, Warsaw 27.05.2017-11.06.2017
‣ Cut - the hair of the Polish people
Pojedyncza Gallery, Krystyna Bochenek Institution of Culture.
Katowice 27.10.2016-9.11.2016
‣ Put together (Poukładane)
Off-Art Gallery, Czestochowa, 5-18.11.2015
Selected group exhibitions in Poland:
‣ Eibisch Prize 2023 (Nagroda Eibischa 2023), Final of the contest, Galeria Katarzyny Napiorkowskiej, Warsaw, 4.12.2023–8.12.2023
‣ OFF Festival 17/15 Poster Exhibition.
Together with Wilhelm Sasnal, Boleslaw Chromry, Dawid Ryski, Barrakuz.
Gallery+, Rondo Sztuki Gallery, Katowice, 4.08.2022-4.09.2022.
Together with Wilhelm Sasnal, Boleslaw Chromry, Dawid Ryski, Barrakuz.
Gallery+, Rondo Sztuki Gallery, Katowice, 4.08.2022-4.09.2022.
‣ Utopias/Dystopias. The Future of the City.
Curated by Prof. Irma Kozina, Adrian Chorebala.
Rondo Sztuki Gallery, Katowice, 24.06.2022-25.07.2022.
Curated by Prof. Irma Kozina, Adrian Chorebala.
Rondo Sztuki Gallery, Katowice, 24.06.2022-25.07.2022.
‣ Exhibition of the 26th Polish Poster Biennale in Katowice.
Poster Whole Kalarus (catalog),
Organizer: BWA Katowice, 01.2022
‣ Próba 2020
Jan Tarasin Art Gallery,
Curators: Joanna Dudek, Anna Palusinska, Jacek Rózanski, Anna Wolff.
Kalisz, 18.12.2020-20.03.2021
Poster Whole Kalarus (catalog),
Organizer: BWA Katowice, 01.2022
‣ Próba 2020
Jan Tarasin Art Gallery,
Curators: Joanna Dudek, Anna Palusinska, Jacek Rózanski, Anna Wolff.
Kalisz, 18.12.2020-20.03.2021
‣ 27th Polish Poster Biennale in Katowice.
BWA Katowice, Katowice, 1.2022
BWA Katowice, Katowice, 1.2022
‣ Femininity. (Kobiecość.)
Gallery +, Rondo Sztuki Gallery, Katowice
Curator: Adrian Chorebała
Katowice, 4.10.2020-20.11.2020
Gallery +, Rondo Sztuki Gallery, Katowice
Curator: Adrian Chorebała
Katowice, 4.10.2020-20.11.2020
‣ 26th Polish Poster Biennale in Katowice.
BWA Katowice
Katowice, 1.2020
‣ Best diplomas of the Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice 2018.
Rondo Sztuki Gallery, Katowice, 25.06.2018–20.07.2018
‣ Salon of Illustrators 2017, illustration, organized by Zamek Cultural Center in Poznań, Poznań International Fair, Poznań 23.03-26.03.2017.
‣ Please disperse! There is nothing to look at here.
Katowice City of Gardens - Krystyna Bochenek Institution of Culture.
Katowice, 14-28.12.2017
‣ Best diplomas of the Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice 2016.
Rondo Sztuki Gallery, Katowice, 27.06.2016–24.07.2016
‣ Cult of life
Arsenal City Gallery
Poznan, 2009
BWA Katowice
Katowice, 1.2020
‣ Best diplomas of the Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice 2018.
Rondo Sztuki Gallery, Katowice, 25.06.2018–20.07.2018
‣ Salon of Illustrators 2017, illustration, organized by Zamek Cultural Center in Poznań, Poznań International Fair, Poznań 23.03-26.03.2017.
‣ Please disperse! There is nothing to look at here.
Katowice City of Gardens - Krystyna Bochenek Institution of Culture.
Katowice, 14-28.12.2017
‣ Best diplomas of the Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice 2016.
Rondo Sztuki Gallery, Katowice, 27.06.2016–24.07.2016
‣ Cult of life
Arsenal City Gallery
Poznan, 2009
Scholarships and grands
2022
‣ Pro-Quality Scholarship of the Katowice Academy of Fine Arts
2021
‣ Pro-Quality Scholarship of the Katowice Academy of Fine Arts
2020
‣ Pro-Quality Scholarship of the Katowice Academy of Fine Arts
‣ Scholarship of the Rector of ASP Katowice for the Best Doctoral Students
2019
‣ Scholarship of the Rector of ASP Katowice for the Best Doctoral Students
‣ Artistic Scholarship of the Mayor of Czestochowa
2018
‣ Lotto and Totalizator Sportowy Foundation Scholarship 100 per 100, 100 scholarships for the Polish Independence Centenary for academic achievements and active social attitude.
2017
‣ Scholarship of the Rector of ASP Katowice for the Best Students
2016
‣ Patronage by Patronite and ZIPSEE Cyfrowa Polska
‣ Artistic Scholarship of the Mayor of Czestochowa
‣ Scholarship of the Rector of ASP Katowice for the Best Students
‣ Pro-Quality Scholarship of the Katowice Academy of Fine Arts
2021
‣ Pro-Quality Scholarship of the Katowice Academy of Fine Arts
2020
‣ Pro-Quality Scholarship of the Katowice Academy of Fine Arts
‣ Scholarship of the Rector of ASP Katowice for the Best Doctoral Students
2019
‣ Scholarship of the Rector of ASP Katowice for the Best Doctoral Students
‣ Artistic Scholarship of the Mayor of Czestochowa
2018
‣ Lotto and Totalizator Sportowy Foundation Scholarship 100 per 100, 100 scholarships for the Polish Independence Centenary for academic achievements and active social attitude.
2017
‣ Scholarship of the Rector of ASP Katowice for the Best Students
2016
‣ Patronage by Patronite and ZIPSEE Cyfrowa Polska
‣ Artistic Scholarship of the Mayor of Czestochowa
‣ Scholarship of the Rector of ASP Katowice for the Best Students