Abrahamik, Marzena

Polish, b. 1978

BiographyMarzena Abrahamik made her Return series (2020-2022) in Chicago, which is commonly referred to as New Poland and an epicenter for the Polish diasporic community. Abrahamik, who emigrated to the United States from Poland as a child, chooses to photograph people of the Polish diaspora and still life arrangements within their homes, capturing significant personal belongings and keepsakes. Red poppies, for example, are the national flower of Poland and are woven throughout the series as a throughline, appearing alongside objects such as American flags or paintings of cowboys. The artist states: “I reflect upon my family’s migration history, memorabilia, interpersonal and transnational communications, and our connection to the legacy of the American dream.”

Marzena Abrahamik received her BA in Political Science and Philosophy from Loyola University her MFA in Photography from Yale University. Her work has been included in numerous solo and group exhibitions, such as at Aperture, New York; the Silver Eye Center for Photography, Pittsburgh; Weinberg/Newton Gallery, Chicago; and the Gallery of Classic Photography, Moscow. She is the recipient of the John Ferguson Weir Award, the PACC, and the IAS Artist Project Grant. Her work is included in the collections of the Art Institute of Chicago and Haas Family Art Library at Yale University.