Michael Polakowski (b. 1994) is a contemporary artist whose work explores the relationship between inner and outer worlds, emerging from an intuitive drive to translate emotional and sensory experiences of his lived environment into visual form. What began as instinctive mark-making has evolved into a metaphysical and transcendental framework, informed by artists such as Agnes Pelton and Giorgio de Chirico.
Over time, Polakowski's practice has shifted toward examining the spirituality embedded in everyday life. Each painting is conceived as a portal-an invitation for viewers to slow down and enter a quieter, more contemplative space. This approach reflects his personal engagement with a range of theological and philosophical traditions, including Christianity, Buddhism, Alchemy, and Theosophy, which collectively shape the symbolic language within his work.
Central to Polakowski's practice is a desire to detach from material consumption and instead emphasize spiritual awareness and communal connection. This ethos resonates with contemporary concerns surrounding environmental degradation and cultural disconnection, positioning his work as a subtle call to mindfulness and responsibility. Rather than offering prescriptive messages, his paintings encourage reflection on interconnectedness and humanity's place within a shared, fragile world.
Polakowski's process begins with automatic drawing, a method rooted in Surrealist and spiritualist traditions intended to bypass rational thought and access subconscious imagery. These drawings are then researched, refined, and cross-referenced, with recurring symbols often shaped by his Catholic upbringing and interest in esoteric systems. The resulting forms function as surrogates for human qualities and metaphysical inquiry.
Following this symbolic mapping, Polakowski develops detailed digital renderings to plan his compositions. These are realized through airbrush and acrylic on canvas-or more recently, on concrete-resulting in vivid, highly detailed works that are both immersive and meditative. Through this layered process, Polakowski continues to build a practice that bridges intuition and structure, spirituality and materiality, offering viewers spaces for quiet contemplation and introspection.