In the 2023 Special Edition of The Arabian Breeders’ Magazine, we interviewed five artists from Poland.
Poland is synonymous with Arabian horses, not just through the breeders in the country, but through the many talented artists that live there. In The Arabian Breeders’ Magazine, we celebrate some of these artists, who help capture the heart of Poland through their brush. Sharing part two here, we look at the art of Magdalena Muraszko-Kowalska.
I am a non-practicing archaeologist, ceramicist, and a horse lover who, unfortunately, cannot ride them, which makes me even more happy to admire Arabian show horses. I try to combine my passion for art with my passion for horses – so, I am an artist who loves drawing Arabian horses.
I live in Poland in an area where jumping sports horses rule, so I am very happy when I can go to an Arabian show or event at an Arabian stud farm.
Like many, I started drawing in high school. Even more precisely, around a month before the entrance exams to the art high school. Of course, I drew an Arabian horse! I decided that these preparation exercises were enough for me. Although we didn’t draw horses during the entrance exams, I passed the exams for art school successfully. I graduated from an art high school in Olsztyn, and throughout my studies, I smuggled images of horses into my work wherever possible.
I owe my first contact with Arabian horses to Patrycja Makowska, one of the best Polish photographers of this breed. I was looking for inspiration for a drawing and came across her images. We spoke, then became friends, and Patrycja showed me the world of these unique, beautiful horses. To this day, she patiently explains to me the intricacies of breeding, helping me acquire materials for my work. Later, I met other people involved in the world of Arabian horse art – Ewa Imielska-Hebda and Zbyszek Kotowski. I fell head over heels in love with both the horses and the people associated with them.
I am still working on my favourite pieces. When I finish a painting, an idea for another one immediately appears, and I always think that the next one will be better and more interesting. That’s why I hope my best work is still ahead of me. One day I will create a drawing and it will completely satisfy me. Then I can say “this is it!”
However, the drawings that gave me the most satisfaction were a series of works commissioned by Białka Arabian Horse Stud. This was something really special for me, especially as it meant my work was being noticed by the horse world. Last year, they asked me to make portraits of Perfinka and Cefir for their commemorative book. Another honour was an invitation to an open-air event in Lithuania celebrating the year of the horse. The culmination of the celebrations is an exhibition of paintings by Malwina de Brade, Marek Hołda and myself in the gallery of the Lithuanian Parliament. This is a great distinction and honour for us.
Another highlight has been an invitation to participate in auctions organised by one of the largest auction houses and galleries in Poland. This meant that I existed not only in the rather hermetic world of ‘horse artists’, but I could go further and show that horses in art are not only historical but that they are current, and are proud, noble, beautiful animals.
As for why the Arabian horse? They are so very expressive. They say that animals have no facial expressions, but this definitely does not apply to Arabian horses! They express themselves not only with their eyes, not only with their heads, but with their whole body. My drawing style is academic, realistic, and when it meets the emotions shown by Arabians, sometimes something cool comes out of it; at least that’s what I hope…
As for dreams, I would like to have the opportunity to go to studs, follow horses around the pastures, and photograph their behaviour, games, their lives. This would be the inspiration to create more drawings on winter evenings.
I would like to carry on with what I am doing now. I kindly invite you to look at my drawings!
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