Natural Beauties: Maria Bartuszová

She may not be a household name in the UK art scene, but perhaps she should be. Bartuszová's abstract sculptures manage to be both impactful and delicate and have a touch of whimsy about them that we can't get enough of.

Bartuszová is a Slovak artist whose work spans from the 1960s through to the 1980s, during which time she developed a distinctive sculptural style using plaster casts and took undeniable inspiration from the natural forms around her.

She was particularly intrigued by transient forms of nature. Through her work, she aimed to capture fleeting moments like the germination of a seed, the cracking of an egg, the formation of rain drops and the ripening of fruit, and in doing so created a visual poetry that celebrated these tiny events that make life happen.

Her love of nature was present throughout her career, and over time she would begin photographing her work amongst the trees in her garden (sometimes even making them a part of the sculpture!)

Obviously we vibe with Maria as fellow nature lovers, but something we really admire about Bartuszová's work is her obsession with experimentation. Throughout her career she played with materials, scale and even physics as she form sculptures 'by pushing, pulling, or submerging them into water, creating unique and distinct shapes.' This constant need to play, evolve with and respond to the materials she works with is something any creative can relate to, whether it's plaster, paint or peonies you're working with!

Like what you see? Visit the Maria Bartuszová exhibition is on at Tate Modern until 25th June 2023!