Maja Godlewska: The Fluid Landscapes

“I explore beauty, permanence and decay in my creative work. I look to phenomena that occur between form and formlessness, order and chaos, things that seem permanent, yet are subject to change and evolution…clouds, stains, patterns of growth and decay.” –Maja Godlewska

Through residencies across Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, and the Americas, Godlewska has witnessed firsthand the transformative, and often disruptive, impact of human activity on natural landscapes.

Over the past two decades, Godlewska’s work has explored the tension between nature and human presence. Sightseeing, eco-tourism, and global travel may seem benign, but they alter ecosystems, reshape coastlines, and leave lasting marks on jungles, oceans, monuments, and mountain ranges. Her paintings confront this paradox, capturing both the awe-inspiring beauty and subtle devastation. Using watercolor paper and ink, her installations form undulating, sculptural surfaces that evoke terrain, memory, and movement. These works serve as a quiet resistance to the “insta-consumption” of natural beauty in the digital age, offering space for slow looking and reflection.