Local artist shortlisted for Women United Art Prize

The artwork of Tottenham Green resident Joanna Pilarczyk Radecka has placed joint-fourth in the Women United Art Prize 2021.

Joanna submitted more than five paintings from the series titled ‘Intimate Times’ to the international prize, which were then selected out of 600 global submissions to the finals.

The contemporary art prize is organised by global collective Art Mums United, a platform that creates art opportunities and coaching programmes for artist mothers and all women creatives.

Joanna, who runs weekly watercolour painting classes at Lordship Rec Hub and the Engine Room in Hale Village, had worked on the body of personal paintings for a year, beginning them at the start of lockdown. They are mostly self-portraits and portraits of her husband and cats.

She said: “It was amazing when I was notified that I was shortlisted out of 600 submissions. I already felt like a winner, I didn’t expect to go any further.

“It was a wonderful feeling. I shared the good news with my partner and also my family in Poland; they are my best supporters.”

Joanna is now looking to showcase her paintings to a wider audience by exhibiting her work in art galleries across London.

She added: “Working on my personal paintings it’s very important to me but I also enjoy sharing my knowledge with others. This is the reason why I’ve been running art classes in Tottenham for the last five years.

“I love my neighbourhood where I find a lot of inspiration. I like to meet creative people during my classes, talking to them and painting together. It’s so important for all of us to share this time and do something that makes us happy.”