Sasha Polgar

Your background in art seems rich, growing up in a family of artists. How did your early experiences influence your creative style?

You’re absolutely right—growing up in a family of artists is a unique experience. On one hand, it’s an incredible privilege to be immersed in the world of art from childhood, absorbing various styles and approaches. I vividly remember watching my grandfather as he lovingly crafted his enchanting illustrations, so rich in detail and deeply rooted in Russian folklore. His work breathed history and tradition. My parents, especially my father, were more drawn to modern Western art, which was freer, more experimental, and filled with bold colors. This duality—a connection to my roots combined with a desire to keep up with the times—has shaped my style. I feel like I’m always searching, moving between figurative and abstract, realism and expressionism. And this journey of exploration will probably never end.

Your works are created using mixed media and collage techniques. What draws you to this combination of mediums, and how does it serve your artistic vision?

I’ve always been fascinated by texture and layers. Mixed media allows me to create surfaces with depth and history. Layering fabric over fabric, paper over paper, feels like building a kind of palimpsest, where the past peeks through the present. I’m also deeply in love with photography. The works of Patrick Demarchelier, Ralph Eugene Meatyard, Lucien Hervé, and David Bailey are masterpieces to me! Glossy images, too, serve as inspiration. Sometimes, I’ll take a photograph and enhance it with paint, adding a sense of dimension and a play of light and shadow. This creates a dialogue between reality and imagination.

Sasha Polgar | Puppies | 2023

Your series includes thought-provoking titles like “All is Vanity” and “Forgive me if…”. How do you decide on the themes and messages behind your pieces?

Ideas come from everywhere! Literature, of course—I adore poetry. Sometimes a single line captures my attention, and I immediately see how it fits onto a canvas, becoming part of the composition. Advertising inspires me too! Those concise, vivid slogans and wordplay—if I hadn’t become an artist, I might have gone into advertising. But not all my work carries a deep meaning. Sometimes text is just a beautiful element, an ornament, a play of form. Titles like “All is Vanity” or “Forgive me if…” have rhythm, graphic appeal, and are artworks in their own right.

Sasha Polgar | Forgive me | 2023

The piece “Puppies” introduces a lighter, playful subject compared to some of your other works. Can you talk about the balance between light and heavy themes in your art?

“Puppies” is a somewhat ironic piece. It’s lighthearted, playful, and a bit childlike. But even in this work, there’s a sense of nostalgia and a longing for lost childhood. I believe there’s always room for both light and shadow in life—and in my art. For instance, the old fabrics I found in the attic of an old house carry their own stories. Someone once embroidered those patterns with love, pouring their soul into them. Now they lay forgotten, covered in dust. I wanted to give them a second life, weaving them into my work. They became splashes of color, textures, a connection between times.

Several of your works contain written text, such as “Nothing” and “Forgive me if…”. How important is the relationship between text and imagery in your art?

For me, text is another means of expression. Sometimes it’s a cry from the soul, a confession, or a dialogue with myself. In “Nothing”, there’s a sense of emptiness and loneliness. “Forgive me if…” is about regret and the mistakes we all make. But these words also carry hope—hope for forgiveness and the chance to make things right. Text helps convey emotions that are sometimes hard to express through paint alone.

Sasha Polgar | Nothing | 2023

What role do emotions like regret or vanity play in your series, and how do you aim to connect with viewers through these feelings?

Regret and vanity are intrinsic parts of the human condition. We all experience them. I want my paintings to make viewers reflect on these things, to pause for a moment and look within themselves. “All is Vanity” serves as a reminder of the transience of everything in this world. It’s important to cherish every moment and not waste time on trivialities. I try to express these feelings through color, composition, and brushwork. For instance, works with darker tones evoke anxiety and uncertainty, while bright colors symbolize life, energy, and hope.

What can we expect from you next in terms of future projects or artistic exploration?

Right now, I’m deeply inspired by the work of Joanna Mitchell. Her boldness, independence, and ability to stand against societal norms are qualities I aspire to. I want to create large canvases, experiment with color and form, and embrace self-expression fearlessly. My dream is for my works to speak for themselves—without extra words or annotations. I want them to evoke emotions, to make people feel and empathize.

Sasha Polgar | All is vanity | 2024