A Portfolio in the Form of a Catalogue — Is It Still Important?
I have recently created my portfolio in the form of a catalogue, magazine. It took me a while to understand that creating something like this is actually quite important, and for many different reasons. Some people may say that it is outdated, as we live in the age of the internet and everything can be shared digitally. However, I believe that having a physical portfolio gives my work a different kind of presence. It allows the viewer to slow down, look closely at the artworks, appreciate the details, and understand more about my artistic process, techniques, and materials. It also creates a personal and lasting record of my work and development as an artist.
A portfolio and catalogue are more than simply a collection of artworks. For me, they are a visual record of my artistic journey—a way to present my paintings and sculptures while also sharing something about my creative process, ideas, techniques, and the materials I work with.
I believe it is important to show the finished artworks together with the details and the stages of my sculpting process. While the paintings in this catalogue are presented as finished works, the sculpture process allows the viewer to see how an idea develops and transforms through my hands. It shows the time, patience, experimentation, and craftsmanship involved in creating each piece.
Including close-up details of my paintings and sculptures gives the viewer an opportunity to appreciate aspects that may not be visible in a full image—the texture, brushwork, layers of colour, marks, and small details that give each artwork its character. These details are an important part of how I express myself and make each work personal and unique.
Listing the techniques and materials I use gives further insight into my practice. It helps explain how I create the different surfaces, textures, forms, and effects in my work, while also documenting the materials and methods that are becoming part of my own artistic language. For other art lovers, this information can also be inspiring, encouraging them to explore and experiment with their own creative ideas. This is often Ho I get inspired.
For me, the catalogue is also a way of preserving my development as an artist. It brings together different works and aspects of my practice in one place, creating a record that I can return to and build upon as my ideas and skills continue to develop.
Most importantly, I want the portfolio to tell a story about my art and about me as an artist. I hope that viewers can look beyond the finished image, discover the details and techniques, and gain a sense of the creativity, dedication, curiosity, and passion behind my work. In this way, the catalogue becomes not only a presentation of what I have created, but also an invitation to look closer, connect with the work, and be inspired by the artistic journey behind it.
A portfolio in the form of a catalogue can also be very useful when participating in exhibitions. The works included in the catalogue do not necessarily have to be the same works that are shown in a particular exhibition. Instead, the catalogue can present a broader overview of my artistic practice and give visitors, curators, galleries, or collectors a better understanding of the different directions within my work.
During an exhibition, the catalogue can provide context that may not be possible to communicate through the artworks alone. It allows people to discover other pieces, see details of my work, and learn more about my creative approach. It can also become a professional introduction to my practice, making it easier for someone who encounters my work at an exhibition to explore my wider body of work afterwards.
In this way, the catalogue becomes a portable representation of my artistic practice. It is not limited to one exhibition or one group of artworks, but can accompany me through different exhibitions, projects, and opportunities, creating a consistent and personal presentation of my work.
Ultimately, I see the catalogue as something that is both a record of where I am now and a starting point for where I may go next. My work will continue to change, and so will I as an artist. I hope that in the future I can look back at this catalogue and see not only the artworks I created, but also the ideas, questions, experiments, and experiences that shaped me at this stage of my journey. At the same time, I hope that someone opening it for the first time will find something that speaks to them, sparks an idea, or inspires them in the same way that discovering the work and processes of other artists inspires me.
ANNA KALISIAK GALLERY – PORTFOLIO