Maja Aleksandra GACKOWSKA -THE POPARTPRINCESS (1992), This Barbie is a Masterpiece; 2023

Acrylic, glitter, glass beads, gold flakes, canvas; 70 x 50 cm
Signed, dated, described on the back: , "This Barbie Is A Masterpiece"/ From, "Pop Art Portraits" series/ by ThePopArtPrincess/ 2023/ (Maja Aleksandra Gackowska)/ Acrylic, Crystals, Glass Beads, Gold Petals, Glitter.

Designer, designer, painter. In her works she refers to contemporary pop-culture, she draws fully on glitter, cult brands, popular films, music videos or commercials. The artist does not try to be a critic of mass culture she draws attention to its significant impact on everyday life. She freely transforms characters and patterns, what is popular and cheap with what is desirable and available to the few. She is inspired by both Tim Burton's films and Britney Spears' music videos. One of the painting series she creates is "Consumerism of the 21st Century," in which she refers to the created "culture of desire" not so much for a particular object as for the brand itself, and again this is not a form of criticism, everything within the limits of reason is acceptable. In her work she does not shy away from brocades, crystals and stones. The artist directly points out that in the nouveau riche world, popular and high culture are hosted together in the same living rooms. In 2022 she was awarded the "Heart of Charity" statuette at the WOMAN POWER gala.

In the work on display, the artist simultaneously refers to a popular doll and one of Jan Vermeer's outstanding works, combining two high-profile events in her work - the exhibition of Vermeer's paintings in Amsterdam representing high culture and the pop culture premiere of the film Barbie.