-Name: Agata Rek
-Born/Based: Poland/ United States
-Making art since: Art has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I’ve always enjoyed experimenting with various tools, techniques, and styles, but my journey into collage art took an unexpected turn in 2017. At that time, I was living a busy life as a freelance illustrator, specializing in traditional hand-drawn pieces with a touch of watercolor, while also pursuing work as a fashion photographer, stylist, and art director in Miami.
During my photography sessions, particularly when capturing close-ups for look books, I felt a desire to break away from the conventional white background. It struck me as an opportunity to inject some creativity by incorporating elements from magazines, cutting out shapes to add interest to the images.
As life threw challenges my way, I found solace in art. Recalling those cut-out elements from my photography work, I began to experiment with them in a new context. It was a discovery that changed everything for me—a genuine REVELATION. I felt an immediate connection to the collage technique, as if it spoke to a part of me that had been waiting to find it. From that moment forward, I knew I wanted to immerse myself fully in this medium, to explore its depths and possibilities. It wasn’t just about creating art; it was about finding a piece of myself in the process.
-Something you’d like our readers know about you: There’s so much out there already! It seems I am constantly torn between being mysterious and wanting to share situations, things that delight or fascinate me. But I will share a couple:
Some time ago I made a pact with myself to uncompromisingly make art until I die or as long as health permits. I wish to accomplish something valuable for future generations. I don’t know if I will ever get to this point, but I am not a quitter, and I will keep trying, also for the people who need inspiration and have moments of doubt.
Also, I feel I have many contradictory personalities within me. Depending on the day, I may describe myself as an extremely shy introvert with a grumpy and pessimistic outlook, or at other times, very excited about life, energetic, self-confident, charismatic, and funny (at least I think so, hahaha).
Moreover, I am a great fan of listening to music on vinyl records, dancing alone at home to a playlist filled with hits from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. I also have a constant appetite for learning and discovering new things, as well as savoring life through travel and food.
-What are three tools/elements you can’t work without?
-Cutting board
-My favorite NT Cutter PRO Utility Knife
-Recycled magazines and books (the more, the better, of course)
I arrogantly will add four more:
-Glue
-My ‘lucky’ Rotring pencil, with which I always sign my work, serves as a souvenir from my days studying architecture
-Coffee with a large oat milk foam in handmade, vintage mug
-Good lighting, because as I age, my sight gets worse.
-What do you think is the most important thing that defines your work as yours?
What defines my work I believe, is its conceptual, experimental, and thought-provoking nature. I strive to explore the connections between past perspectives and contemporary viewpoints, aiming to bridge them towards the Recently, I’ve found a passion for working in series, appreciating its capacity for storytelling. Each piece reflects upon socially significant themes or personal insights. Through the cohesion of artworks within a series, I delve into their interactions, observing how artworks complement or clash with one another. This process expands my perspective, and I hope it does the same for the viewer, allowing us to explore diverse interpretations of a single topic. Usually, I try to complement my work with words, implementing a set of associations to stimulate the imagination at various levels.
Furthermore, I wish my work is characterized by uncompromisingly level of intimacy and akin to reading a diary. It encompasses a spectrum of emotions: from the dichotomy of good and bad, to the juxtaposition of peacefulness and disturbance, and the interplay between static and dynamic, sweet and salty, geometric and organic, sensual and unfeeling. I find beauty in the contradictions present within my creations.
The vast majority of my works have deep connections with fashion, as it’s my second passion. While working on commercial commissions, I am striving to break the traditional style of collage used in these kinds of projects and create work that possesses a strong touch of fine art.
-Can you describe your work process?
Chaotic, passionate, intense, multidimensional.
-Which is the latest project/series/artwork that you had been working on?
I would like to mention three projects I recently finalized:
- – Commission. Unveiling 21st Century Luxury Essence Through Art: An Exclusive Collection by Atelier Pardon.
- Collaboration. Reimagining Repossi: Through the Lens of Anouk Hart and Agata Rek’s Collage Artworks.
- Personal project. Pocket-Sized Identity: Collection of Miniature Abstract Collages Concluded in a Passport Book.
-Which artists would you recommend us to check out?
Wow, there are so many, and I’m sure I’ll regret later if I don’t mention someone I truly admire. However, to make
it easier for me, I’ll narrow it down to six contemporary collage artists in random order:
Vincent La Scala @vincentlascala
Leigh Wells @leighwells
Mario Zoots @zoots
Steven Conner @steven_conner_design
Soizic Menut @soizic_menut
Monique Baumann @baumannmonique
I would also like to mention @max-o-matic, but I’m concerned it might come across as “ass-kisser” 😉
-What is your personal definition of collage?
To me, collage isn’t just about art; it’s a way of life—a method of discovering and connecting elements in unexpected ways. It encourages imagination and the search for unconventional solutions by bringing together seemingly unrelated pieces.
Collage teaches me to pay attention to details I might otherwise overlook, not only in art but also in everyday life and within myself. It helps me see imperfections in a new light and embrace the dynamic nature of the creative process, while also learning to trust my instincts. These lessons extend beyond art and contribute to growth in all areas of life. Working with collage has been the most rewarding aspect of my artistic journey so far.
Learn more about Agata Rek on Instagram and her website
