Justyna Koziczak, *Innocence*, 2024

oil on canvas, 60 cm x 50 cm

Justyna Koziczak: “In some of my recent works, I’ve used the motif of the vagina, depicted in a stylized way, but it’s still recognizable. Sexuality is one of the elements I also explore in my paintings; it’s a highly emotional subject, which makes it very interesting to me. Are these strictly erotic paintings...? I would rather call them sensual narratives about sexuality; in this way, I’m also trying to change the perception of depictions of genitalia in art, since they’re used here as symbols, not as a source of sexual arousal. I understand, however, that for many people, eroticism is synonymous with sexuality, and the mere depiction of a vagina may seem controversial, because sex itself remains a taboo subject in many cultural, religious, and social circles.”