Alicja Kozłowska transforms the mundane into extraordinary through her hyper-realistic three-dimensional embroidered felt sculptures that challenge perceptions of consumer culture. Working primarily with felt, cotton, labels, newspapers, and foils, the Polish textile artist employs a distinctive combination of art quilt techniques and embroidery — executed half by hand and half by sewing machine — to create sculptures so realistic they often deceive the eye. Her creative process begins with felt patterns, which serve as the structural foundation requiring precise measurements and spatial calculations, followed by varied filling and fixing techniques depending on whether the sculpture needs to hold its shape. The most crucial stage, which she calls thread painting, involves using the needle like a brush, employing both hand embroidery and machine work with an open-toe embroidery foot to apply shading, finishing touches, and intricate details.
Deeply influenced by Andy Warhol and Pop Art aesthetics, Kozłowska’s practice centers on a critical examination of consumerism and mass production, deliberately selecting products with recognizable logos and interesting shapes that can articulate broader cultural ideas. Her work challenges the culturally-constructed indifference toward everyday objects and the packaging designs created by artists whose contributions often go unrecognized, seeking to help people view mass-produced goods from a different perspective. The artist’s experimental approach extends beyond traditional textile boundaries, as she continuously explores combining fabric with techniques from entirely different fields — including porcelain, 3D printing, and resin — demonstrating that these methods impose no creative limits and can be utilized in infinite ways. Her performances in grocery stores, museums, and public spaces, where she discreetly places her embroidered sculptures among actual products to gauge reactions, further emphasize her commitment to breaking down barriers between fine art and everyday life while encouraging deeper reflection on the objects that surround us daily.
More info: Website, Instagram.
