Iwona Torowin

Ivona Torovin

Professional Fine Artist

born 1973 in Vilnius, Lithuania

Studied 1990-1996 in University of Fine Arts in Poznan city, West Poland.
Member of Poznan Society Of Painters in years 1999-2006.
Member of Lithuanian Art Society in Vilnius since 2001.

 Exhibitions:

 1993 – Modern Art Centre Bialystok, Poland, group exhibition

1995 - Art Consulting Gallery Elzbieta Szymanska, Poznan, Poland

1998 - Group Exhibition throughout Austria

2000 - Znad Wilii Gallery, Vilnius, Lithuania

2002 - Znad Wilii Gallery, Vilnius, Lithuania

2004 - Modern Art Centre in Poznan PALACE (Zamek), Poznan, Poland

2006 - Community Centre ‘Victoria’, Poznan, Poland

2009 - Corner Gallery, Gatley

2011 - Open Window Gallery, Manchester, Quay Street (ArtInTheCity)

2011 - 0ncoming: 9th July-31 August, Loka Gallery, Cheadle

 Current Galeries:

 Galeria Znad Wilii, Vilnius, Lithuania
Art Gallery Gida, Poznan, Poland
Loka Gallery, Cheadle, UK
ArtIntheCity Gallery, Stockport, UK        

The Corner Gallery, Gatley, UK
Gallery 22, Hale, Altrincham, UK

e-mail: iwo.tobo@yahoo.com       website: www.ivona-painting.co.uk

 tel: 07 895 888 060

 I grew up in one of the most beautiful European capital cities, Vilnius. Nearly seven hundred years old town is situated on picturesque hills and filled with antique architecture. It has always been a place where poets and painters found their inspiration.

At the time of my childhood it was also the farthest west point in the Soviet Union where all kind of creative personalities seeking freedom of expression used to gather.

 My parents introduced me to theatres and concerts at early age so I developed an interest towards all kinds of art. At the age of 10 I started doing a lot of drawing while reading literature and poetry.

By the time I was doing my A-levels I already graduated from post-compulsory Art College and was making amatour avant-gard movies with my good friend, now famous design artist. We used to truant from school in order to get to the historical old city by dawn and were painting in plein-air even in winter, which was freezing cold in Lithuania.To my defense, I past my exams with excellent grades and secured a place in the local university. However, I decided to travel abroad and study art.

 During five years of studies I learnt a lot about art history and techniques and contemporary art theories, and developed my own style. I was trained to make conceptual art, which meant that my final diploma series of paintings had to go with some kind of a philosophical artist statement.

I started exhibiting and selling paintings while I was a student and many of my works are now in collections all around the world.

Apart from painting, I set my interest on monotype technique which I loved since my youth. Graphic art gives me an opportunity to use my drawing skills and is an entirely different world in regards to painting.

I have been painting for more than 20 years now. Everything I see or do in my everyday life gives me ideas and inspiration to paint. My art is mostly figurative, I concentrate on people and their feelings, and relationship between them. I cannot go without painting for couple of days, it makes me feel uncomfortable and unfulfilled.

The world of colours and shapes is never boring to me and I love the struggle of putting them ‘right’. When I reach the desired harmony it is a very rewarding feeling.

Some paintings happen in two days and some are being made over two years. Painting to me is a fulfilling of inner desire to express something that I already feel but cannot possibly describe in words or photos. I can only compare it to music. My works are my songs, but they ’happen’ in the intimate environment of my studio and then I can show them to the public.