I am a multimedia artist working at the intersection of social documentary photography, portrait photography, and mixed media. My practice is deeply rooted in social commentary, with a strong focus on feminism and the female experience in Poland. Through my work, I explore the boundaries of femininity within contemporary culture, questioning societal norms and challenging the power structures of the incumbent patriarchy.
Driven by independent research and keen observations of the world around me, I initiate projects that shed light on the role of women in society. My work is a natural collaboration with those I photograph, creating a safe and intimate space where they can share their stories on their own terms.
Thematically, my art engages with issues of female body acceptance, eating disorders, gender inequality, women’s rights, and reproductive rights. I am particularly interested in the relationship between the human body and self-perception, documenting its true, unfiltered image. I embrace the body’s raw structure, shape, and texture—seeking imperfections, authenticity, and the unique forms that define individual identity.
My work is both personal and political. It stems from my own journey of discovering femininity and is informed by critical reflections on the influence of pop culture, mass media, and societal expectations. By capturing the emotional and physical realities of the women I photograph, I highlight the tension between collective ideals and personal identity. Each project is not only an artistic exploration but also a form of activism—an intimate yet universal dialogue about womanhood, autonomy, and self-acceptance.
Contact:
marta.karkosa@gmail.com
+48 663 363 940
instagram
Driven by independent research and keen observations of the world around me, I initiate projects that shed light on the role of women in society. My work is a natural collaboration with those I photograph, creating a safe and intimate space where they can share their stories on their own terms.
Thematically, my art engages with issues of female body acceptance, eating disorders, gender inequality, women’s rights, and reproductive rights. I am particularly interested in the relationship between the human body and self-perception, documenting its true, unfiltered image. I embrace the body’s raw structure, shape, and texture—seeking imperfections, authenticity, and the unique forms that define individual identity.
My work is both personal and political. It stems from my own journey of discovering femininity and is informed by critical reflections on the influence of pop culture, mass media, and societal expectations. By capturing the emotional and physical realities of the women I photograph, I highlight the tension between collective ideals and personal identity. Each project is not only an artistic exploration but also a form of activism—an intimate yet universal dialogue about womanhood, autonomy, and self-acceptance.
Contact:
marta.karkosa@gmail.com
+48 663 363 940
Residencies
2024 Fotodok - Lighthouse Specials, Utrecht, NL
2024 Student Canon Development Programme
Prizes and awards:
2023 Honorable Mention PHOTOBOOK AWARD Encontros da Imagem International Photography & Visual Arts Festival, Braga, Portugal
2022 Honorable Mention “Photography Books That Made Us See Differently in 2022” The Luupe, New York, USA
Solo exhibitions:
2025 Acceptance, Fokus Gallery, Siedlce, PL
2023 Acceptance, Tres Bien Gallery, Warsaw
2023 RECOVERY, Stacja Praga, Warsaw
2019 Piękno / Beauty, Francuska 32, Warsaw
Group exhibitions:
2024 The exhibition "13 artists at ul. Zachodnia 13" during the Open Gardens of Artists Festival Dąbrowa in Łomianki
2024 Polish Women Photographers - Year 2023, Rzeszów, Olsztyn, Poland
2023 Authentic Femininity - exhibition of artists and students from the Art Studio of the University of Siedlce, Siedlce, Poland
2023 REA Art Fair, Milan
2023 Photobook Award Encontros da Imagem - International Photography & Visual Arts Festival, Braga, Portugal
2023 Performing Photobook, Format International Photography Festival, Derby, UK
2023 LCB Depot Film, Leicester, UK
2022 Czarnoziem, video collaboration with Alisa Marchenko, Galeria Dim, Warsaw
2021 Body is like grass, video collaboration with Alisa Marchenko, HUB/ART, Milan
2018 Consume, TYPE UNITE, Seoul, South Korea
Education
2024-2026 Master in Photography & Society, Royal Academy of Arts, The Hague, NL
2024 Canon Student Development Programme
2024 Lighthouse Specials by Fotodok, Utrecht, NL
2019-2021 BFA New Media Arts, Polish- Japanese Academy of Information Technology, Warsaw, PL
2019 Erasmus +, Academy of Fine Arts, Verona, IT