Magdalena Joanna W.

My name is Magdalena and I am a Photographer and Educator. I attended a Foundation Course in Art & Design at Central Saint Martins, then I went to study Fine Arts at Chelsea College of Art and finally a Masters Degree in Photography from Royal College of Art. Since the early stage I have been surrounded by beauty that has been stimulating and motivating me to look, contemplate and very quickly lead to creation which followed with the desire to share my knowledge with others! I learned that art is not a simple reproduction of objects but a close observation of the world led by making conclusions. Realising that it is not a simple depiction of objects, there is more than a surface behind every piece, gave me independence. Understanding that the aim is to show nature rather than a raw copy of the subject allowed me to step on a path of liberation.

While being passionate about the arts I have felt a strong vocation for teaching and I have been actively fulfilling it for many years now (since 2012), providing a rounded art education covering theory and practice, always emphasising the importance of critical thinking within a creative process. I have been leading lessons and workshops in Art Theory and Practice including Fine Arts, Photography, History of Arts and Design as well as teaching English and Polish to foreign students. I am confident about sharing my knowledge and experience while motivating and giving the freedom in self-exploration and experimentation. At the same time having a structure that allows the best possible development of the students and providing support and motivating critique. Having experienced different learning processes in the institutions like UAL or Royal College of Arts, where I had a chance to be tutored by practising artists, critics and curators, has given me a lot of insight into a variety of teaching styles and approaches. I have been teaching Arts to younger students who only make their first steps in the Art world as well as mature students such as one of my current students who is PhD Alumni of Politics and Philosophy who decided to turn into the Arts. In 2014 I was in charge of the Education Program at Foundation & Trust Gallery in Balfron Tower, London in 2014 which provided me with experience in organising and managing the workshops and visits within the gallery setting.