Meet contemporary painter, Marta Chojnacka

Q: Hi Marta, it’s lovely to chat with you. Tell us about your time living in London and your artistic journey through those years.

A: London is a really special place and has been a huge source of inspiration for me. After graduating with an MA in Fine Art in my home country Poland, I decided to move to this vibrant city, and I absolutely loved it. London has such incredible energy. I was visiting galleries almost every week, studying my favourite masters, and I think that had a big impact on my work. Being surrounded by so much culture, creativity, and history helped me grow as an artist.

I’m also a big fan of nature, and London doesn’t disappoint in that regard either. There are so many parks and gardens, peaceful, green corners that offer a contrast to the busy city. I found a lot of calm and inspiration there too. Places like Kew Gardens, Barbican, and the Commons from South London became little escapes and are still a reference in my current work.

Q: How did relocating to Barcelona inform your work?

A: Moving to Barcelona was a big step for me, and it definitely influenced my work. If I had to describe it simply, London is silver, and Barcelona is golden. The light here is so much stronger, and the colours feel more intense and alive. That shift in atmosphere had a huge impact on my work. I embraced the brightness, and my palette became more vibrant and warm as a result.

I also completely fell in love with Mediterranean flora, palm trees, ficus, and lush houseplants started appearing in my work more and more. They’ve become recurring characters in my visual universe.

At the same time, I began experimenting more with water-based techniques, which allowed me to work faster and keep the colours fresh and saturated. It suited this new, sunny environment perfectly.

Q: Your paintings are filled with optimism, is this something that you hope for in your work?

A: Over the years, I’ve noticed that many people collect my work because it brings them joy or lifts their mood, and that means a lot to me. Life is full of ups and downs, and of course, that shows up in the creative process too. But I’ve made a conscious choice to focus on the brighter side, to celebrate beauty, curiosity, and the little moments that spark wonder.

Through my paintings, I try to share that feeling. If someone can look at one of my pieces and feel a bit lighter, or smile, then I feel I’ve done my job.

Q: Which artists hold a lasting influence on you?

A: David Hockney is a big one, I love his modern approach to classic subjects. There’s something incredibly fresh and bold in the way he reinterprets landscapes and interiors. I find that extremely inspiring.

Henri Matisse is another constant influence. His use of colour was groundbreaking, so expressive and full of curiosity. Even today, his work feels incredibly modern.

I’ve also learned a lot from the Impressionists, especially how they use colour to create atmosphere and emotion. Their ability to capture fleeting moods and light has stayed with me.

Q: Do you practice art full time, or is it something you fit around other projects?

A: At the moment, my art practice is part-time, but still very present in my everyday life. Together with my husband, I run a small creative jewellery brand called Materia Rica, where we design and produce sustainable pieces inspired by art, nature, and culture. It’s a very artistic and collaborative project, we’ve had the chance to work with incredible institutions like the Magritte Foundation, Fundació Gala-Salvador Dalí, Tate Modern, and Casa Batlló, creating collections that reinterpret iconic artworks.

So while my time is split, both practices feed into each other. I use the same skills and creative energy in both, drawing, colour exploration, storytelling. My painting practice complements my design work and vice versa, and I feel lucky to live surrounded by creativity every day.

Q: What are your future aspirations for your art practice?

A: One of my dreams is to create a large-format series inspired by glasshouses filled with exotic flora. I’m fascinated by the atmosphere of botanical gardens, the light, the humidity, the layered greens, and unexpected colours. I’d love to explore that world on a bigger scale and really immerse myself in it.

From that series, I hope to develop a fabric collection using elements from the paintings, turning the imagery into patterns and textures that can live beyond the canvas. It’s a way of extending the artwork into everyday life, keeping it tactile and accessible.