Mirrors, Mobiles And Nature At Carlton Fine Arts For Women’s History Month

Long before Karolina Maszkiewicz was an artist, she was a fashion designer.

The Poland-born, Los Angeles-based artist designed ready-to-wear womenswear for The Gap, Forever 21, and yoga brands.

“I love fashion, my sculptures come out of my training in fashion,” said Maszkiewicz. “Even though I’m not a fashion designer today, my design background is absolutely key to what I do today as an artist.”

Now, her work is on view as part of a group show at Charles Saffati’s Carlton Fine Arts in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, called Women In Art, which runs until March 29. It is the gallery’s third annual exhibit celebrating Women’s History Month, and over a dozen artworks are on view by Maszkiewicz alongside Meagan Jain and Libby Klein, as well as key pieces from Andy Warhol, Mr. Brainwash, and Ron Litchenstein, among others.

When Maszkiewicz first started out in the fashion industry, she quickly learned how important details were in design. “Every single thread counts,” as she says. “Great fashion design is truly in the details.”

That crosses over to her sculpture work, too. “I’m very particular about how things are finished,” she notes. “How materials flow and textures look and how they’re sanded, polished and presented.”

Maszkiewicz is known for her “mobile” sculptures, that being kinetic art. Her sculptures balance objects on metal rods, and together they work together in large compositions. “

In her artwork, she dyes objects the same way she would dye fabrics, too. “In a way, they have a tint,” she says. “It’s close to what you’d do in fashion.”

Her mobiles on view are made from seed pods she collected around Los Angeles. “Some come from Griffith Park, others come from Santa Barbara,” she said. Maszkiewicz dries them out in her studio and works them into metal rods. “I fit them into tree and plant-like compositions,” she said. “It’s about taking something discarded and turning it into something beautiful. It’s almost like a hanging garden.”

In a way, the artist creates poetry on mobiles. “It relaxes the mind, just like we do when we walk in nature,” she said. “The California desert inspires me.”

When she worked in fashion, she always wanted to expand into the art world, which allows more creative freedom. She still loves fashion, though. “I think fashion is finally exciting again,” says Maszkiewicz. “There was a time where everything was subdued, there’s a lot of architectural shapes, boxy shapes, and oversized styles. It's innovative and artsy.”

When it comes to art and design from her homeland, she loves the work of Polish fashion designer Magda Butrym, who makes "Strong, confident and empowering styling that marries classic menswear with a real feminine, sexy and romantic aesthetic- that I identify with," she says, and Polish artist Magdalena Abakanowicz. "Her 3-dimensional fiber sculptures that she calls “A search for organic mysteries” leave me awestruck," she said.

Meanwhile, New York artist and designer Meagan Jain is showcasing a selection of her interior design-friendly artworks, made from mirror and wood. Among the works she’s showing at the gallery are “Natural Portal,” made from birchwood and walnut. Her portals are like otherworldly, wavy frames surrounding mirrors. “It’s a reminder that every moment is a portal of potential,” said Jain. “It’s a reminder that the moment is yours to seize.”

She uses aspects of the female form, including womb-like symbols, to amplify women's rights, the LGBTQIA+ and the BIPOC community, and her Portal series carry her message.

The Portals are symbols that represent the power of choice. It’s a starting point for self-exploration, too, not only for the artist, but the viewer, as well. “The portal represents the inherent potential within each of us to shape-shift and evolve at any given moment,” she said.

“Every facet of its design underscores the notion that every fleeting second offers an opportunity to change, to redefine, to choose anew. Its reflective nature serves as a reminder that our best guide and the most revealing compass is often our own reflection.”

Using mirrors as a material in her artworks “pulls you in,” says Jain, who is largely inspired by mystic artist Hilma AF Klint. “Language can be limiting, but symbols pass through the mind much quicker,” said Jain, who previously created a capsule collection of arty clothing. “I love the design world because of that.”

Another artist in the exhibition is Israeli-born artist Libby Klein, who showcases sumptuous landscapes in dreamy pastel hues, with golden touches. She is showcasing paintings of Israel, including pieces like “Vibrant Embers” and “Springs Renewal in the Old City.”

When Klein makes art, she interprets the personality, home and story of someone's life and then she creates the artwork. “It is the story your walls will tell for years to come,” she says. “Every painting has much thought behind it, no two are the same.”

Klein’s paintings in the exhibition are all based on the color white because they symbolize peace to the artist. “White represents purity and love,” she said. “I love to bring joy and positivity to the world, especially in such times.”

“Amidst these challenging times, our greatest power is to speak out, inspire, and spread light,” she adds.

Women’s History Month is not just about admiring the great female heroes in the public eye, but those who have made an impact on our own lives, as well.

“My great grandmother Renee Reichmann continues to have a tremendous impact on how I see life,” said Klein. “She escaped from the Nazis with her family during the war, ultimately making her way to Tangier in Morocco, then smuggled her way back into Hungary during the war to save her family and community. That dedication and nobleness is truly inspiring and continues to strengthen me to this day.”

Women In Art runs until March 29 at Carlton Fine Arts Ltd. located at 543 Madison Avenue in New York, NY 10022.