Artist Profile

I was born in Poland, and came to Napa Valley in 1994 to marry my long-time friend and Napa Valley winemaker Jim Allen. While studying ceramics at Napa Valley College, I embarked on a quest to discover a style that would best express my artistic feelings.

I have always been interested in art. I like to convey my ideas, thoughts and feelings through symbolism. I am a great admirer of Amedeo Modighliani and a believer in Georgia O'Keeffe's wisdom that "nothing is less real than realism. Details are confusing. It is only by selection, by elimination, by emphasis that we get at the real meaning of things."

Much of my work is influenced by ancient cultures, including Pre-Columbian art. Many of my sculptures explore human facial expressions; some showing sadness, others serenity and a remarkable calmness. The female statuettes I create with curved lines and exaggerated forms express a graceful sensuality. I also love to sculpt whimsical animals with friendly human expressions.

My favorite technique is hand building from coils and slabs and then using the ancient Japanese Raku method of firing to accomplish earth tones, colors and surface textures. I find this adds so much to the mood and expression of a piece.