Today we’d like to introduce you to Ona Sadkowsky.
Hi Ona, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Born in Zurich on January 17th, 1992. I grew up in the old town of Zurich in a family of artists and am now the 4th generation. I grew up in my mother’s studio and have quite intrinsically started to draw comics and paint pictures to process my life. In 2013, I had my first solo exhibition in Zurich and after that, a great demand arose.
In 2014, I was selected to exhibit at the well-known Swiss art fair for young, contemporary art (“JUNGKUNST”). This was followed by other art fairs in Denmark, HONG KONG, Hungary, Spain, and Germany. In 2018, I was asked to design the complete visual for the Street Parade – the world’s biggest techno festival. This was also the time when I made a separation between “Commercial” and “Fine Art (Original Paintings)”.
Besides other exhibitions, I was allowed to design interesting advertising projects for Emmi Café Latte, Delonghi, Microlino, Absolut Vodka, Disney Switzerland, and many more. My goal in my art is to inspire people and one day to be able to gain a foothold internationally – preferably in the US and Asia.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, the path has been anything but easy. I’ve come a long way, but I’m still a long way from my main goals! *laughs*. It was sometimes difficult because, between life as an artist, you also had to master life as an employee in a company, work part-time to make ends meet financially, and still have reasonably enough time for painting.
I worked as a Flight Attendant (which I loved. But it was difficult to handle because of the flexibility and schedules) and later as a commercial employee. The part-time workload then shrank over the years more and more and I could finally devote myself fully to art.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I have already received praise from some art critics for my concise and distinctive style. This pleases me very much because I think that a strong recognition value ultimately makes a big difference. I have a colorful style related to street and urban art – today’s playground of imagination and fantasy – and I define my style myself as contemporary urban art.
My artistic work is characterized by both lightness and depth. Penetrated by my own experience of being open and equally contemplative, my works seem easily accessible. At the same time, however, they hold the mirror of life before our eyes and thus initiate thought processes and (self)reflection. In the end, they always show us the opportunities that the future holds ready for us. Many details and snapshots in my work make this trust in life clear.
When one gets involved in my art, it seems like a catharsis: Attracted by the lightness, confronted with the complex mirror image, redeemed by the positive prospects. As in the Aristotelian tragedy in Ancient Greece – in which the spectator felt fear (Phobos) and pity (Elens), but then purified and mentally cleansed – the viewer of my work also experiences such a catharsis. The reminiscence of pop art greats like KEITH HARING is only superficial. The destiny of information, the complexity, and the surprising moments in my paintings create a world of their own and captivate the viewer.
Medium Fine Art: Acrylic, Marker, Pencil, Airbrush, Canvas.
Medium Commercial: Digital Art (iPad).
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Oh, there are lots of them. Here are three examples: I loved bathing in all the public fountains with my clothes on my way home from school in the summer.
Or once I was allowed to spend my entire summer vacation in my grandfather’s studio and was allowed to do whatever I wanted in it. I also loved making objects out of autumn leaves and then selling them on the street so I could buy my long-awaited hamster.
Pricing:
- Prices from $500 up to $35000
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ona-sadkowsky.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/ona_sadkowsky
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ona-sadkowsky/
Image Credits
Joseph Khakshouri
