Marzena Ziejka’s Statement

Historically, tapestries were a medium for storytelling passed from generation to generation. In my work I want to tell personal stories to reflect the universal experience that we all share. In my exploration of what contemporary tapestry embodies I reach for different fibers, I re-purpose materials and combine mediums. Volume and texture play a key role too. The weft crossing the warp has unique qualities perfect for projecting memories, feelings, and meanings – images.

Using different fibers and applying texture brings new life, new joy and new qualities to the tapestry. Mixing other mediums within traditional tapestry work challenges tapestry to expand and adapt as a medium itself. I may bring paint to shredded mail and magazines used as fiber for I feel paper asking for paint: the tapestry becomes a convergence of two mediums. Or I may paint an image directly on warp then cover it completely with translucent weft and let the light play with it. I utilize negative space. I might print an image on my piece like on any textile. But eventually tapestry is my choice of medium: in whatever direction I go in search what tapestry is and what is not, warp-weft relation combined with projection of image is the most decisive aspect of my work – and exploration is a key.

Marzena Ziejka’s Biography

Marzena Ziejka was born and raised in Tarnow , Poland and immigrated to Chicago in 2000. While studying drawing, painting, sculpture and tapestry the latter became a favored direction within her work. She was employed for 11 years as a professional weaver in Krakow where she turned other artist’s work into tapestries however it was always left to her talent and skills to interpret the pieces. She has produced a large number of commissioned pieces for both private clients and public institutions. When she emigrated to the U.S. back in 2000 she left loom behind in Poland due to the cost of shipping it. For Marzena’s first years in the U.S. she was employed as a freelance graphic artist with work concentrated in collectible glaze-ware. In 2009 she shipped her loom to Chicago and has since been pursuing her art work, full-time, in the medium of tapestry.