Marquesa Gallery hosts Polish artist Maria Brzozowska’s solo exhibition, Magic in Bloom. The artist invites viewers on a journey through a dreamlike universe where fantasy and reality intertwine, exploring themes of transformation, discovery, and rebirth.
Brzozowska’s imagined “garden” is not merely a visual narrative—it’s a metaphorical reflection of inner transformation, feminine experiences, and creative power. The “magic” in the exhibition’s title points to unseen inner forces, while “bloom” symbolizes the process of self-reinvention and metamorphosis. Brzozowska says: “I’ve long been drawn to the garden’s symbolism, not just as a physical space but as a realm of memory, evolution, and possibility. In this exhibition, each piece embodies a stage of self-blooming, as if stepping through different portals within a surreal landscape. Inspired by folklore, literature, and the dreamlike nature of transformation, the works explore the magic present in growth, whether in nature, the self, or the liminal spaces in between.”
Brzozowska aims to be emotional and introspective while trying to map feelings and contemplate. Each piece holds up a mirror to our inner world, transporting viewers to a distinct emotional state—an “inner landscape.” Melancholia’s Garden offers an emotional reckoning with melancholic figures cloaked in deep blues, embracing hope. Floral Alchemist unveils the creative and transformative nature of womanhood through golden details. Marzanna’s Farewell, inspired by the Polish folklore ritual of bidding winter goodbye, becomes a visual allegory for letting go of the old to make way for renewal. Primordial Awakening juxtaposes two stages of awakening, confronting viewers with a timeless cycle of introspection.
In this series, Brzozowska merges oil and acrylic for the first time, embarking on a technical metamorphosis. Artists says:
“Oil paint brought depth and breath to my works, much like spring bursting from the earth.” This fusion adds not only physical texture but also emotional intensity to her pieces.
The Transformative Power of Art
Magic in Bloom invites viewers not just to an aesthetic experience but to a personal journey of questioning and discovery. Here, art is not an escape—it’s a vessel for introspection, awareness, and spiritual renewal. Brzozowska’s dreamlike world allows viewers to unleash their imagination, explore alternative perspectives, and discover their inner garden.
In this sense, the exhibition crystallizes how art contributes to personal transformation: as viewers wander among silent images, they can listen to their inner voice, confront buried emotions, and construct new layers of meaning.
In the Footsteps of Women Surrealists
Brzozowska emerges as a contemporary successor to the path forged by women surrealists—Leonora Carrington, Remedios Varo, and Dorothea Tanning—who reimagined representations of women’s inner worlds and shattered surrealism’s masculine codes. Brzozowska revitalizes this legacy, centering women’s intuitive wisdom, resilience, and creative potential.
