Artist Biography
Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Martyna Jurkowski is currently pursuing a BFA in Studio Art at Endicott College. Her focus is on oil painting, digital illustration, and photography. Over the years, Jurkowski has become drawn to themes of naturalistic environments, emphasizing the use of color and detail in her work. These scenes are often described as calming and serene, evoking feelings as though the viewer is fully immersed in each landscape.
In the fall of 2024, Jurkowski served a semester-long internship at the Griffin Museum of Photography in Winchester, MA. She helped bring exhibitions together as a Curatorial Assistant and remains curious about related areas, including museum archives and fine art restoration work. After graduation, she plans to continue her independent studio studies of environmental design and continue exploring the field of museum studies.
Thesis Abstract
This capstone explores the connection between the themes of nature, fairy tales, and spirituality. The resulting collection of literature based on these interests explains their significance in relaying the underlying story of navigating the pursuit of happiness. The literature includes research on the benefits of nature exposure to human well-being, spirituality rooted in nature, social reform extremism, and the emotional value of fairytales. The series of art pieces includes three digital illustrations and a ceramic figure. The ceramic fairy sits in front of an illustrated stained glass window depicting a night sky and a floral scene. A second illustration is displayed above the stained glass window, featuring a surrealist scene of a forest viewed through a fisheye lens. The third image in the series shows a treehouse standing alone in early morning fog. This composition creates a curious and explorative atmosphere, leaving the viewer wondering what more can be found inside this fantastical world.