Dora Grabkowska
I am an interdisciplinary artist working across participatory and conceptual art, sculpture, painting, sound, and moving image. I grew up in Poland and moved to England in 2006, where I completed a BA degree in Design and Applied Arts. Currently, I am pursuing a Master of Fine Arts degree in Arts & Humanities at the Royal College of Art in London.
Ranging from micro to macro, many of my projects take ideas beyond the traditional constraints of scale and mediums. With over 15 years of experience in branding, illustration, graphic design, and product design, I have established a strong foundation for my interdisciplinary approach to art, emphasising a minimalist and symbolic representation of ideas.
I have worked with renowned global brands such as Red Bull, Suntory Group, Atherton Bikes, Hubbub, Workday, TEDx, Faber&Faber, and The National Theatre amongst others, and exhibited my work internationally in art galleries and museums.
In 2016, I was shortlisted for the Women in Innovation Award by Innovate UK and was recognised as one of the ‘Most promising female entrepreneurs’ by Innovate UK in July 2017. In December 2022, I received the DYCP Award from Arts Council England.
Exhibitions
2024 - “Storm Veil”, painting/performance art, “Gottlob Art Residency” and exhibition, 19-24 August 2024, Karpniki Castle, PL
2024 - “BADMINTON CLUB”, participatory/conceptual art, “Wandsworth Art Fringe” and RCA2024, Albion Riverside, London, UK
2024 - “SHADOWS”, soundscape, “Wandsworth Art Fringe”, “In Secret Dens” art collective, Riverside Walk, London, UK
2023 - “What Made Me”, participatory art, “FONDSFORUM 2023” conference, Copenhagen, Denmark.
2022 - ‘‘What Made Me’’, participatory art, ‘‘Connect Me’’ exhibition, Trapholt Museum of Modern Art and Design, Kolding, Denmark.
2022 - ‘‘What Made Me’’, participatory art, ‘‘Workday Rising Europe’’ conference, Älvsjö, Sweden.
2022 - ‘‘What Made Me’’, participatory art, ‘‘Workday Rising’’ conference, Orlando, Florida, USA.
2020 - ‘‘Wat Maakt Mij’’, participatory art, ‘‘Ik ben ik’’ group exhibition, Concordia, Enschede, Netherlands.
2020 - ‘‘What Made Us in 2020’’, participatory art, PlusX, Brighton, UK
2020 - ‘‘The Myr Tree’’, winning sculpture for the ‘‘Love Your Forest’’ campaign by Hubbub, Suntory Beverage & Food, Forestry Commission, Forest of Dean, UK
2019 - ‘‘I Am…’’, participatory art, ‘‘Move The Dial’’ global digital media conference, Toronto, Canada.
2018 - ‘‘Who do you think you are?’’, participatory art, Sabrina Starke’s group exhibition, Tent Rotterdam, Netherlands.
2015 - Design products retailed at “We Built This City” pop-up shop, Carnaby Street, London, UK
2014 - ‘‘Voltage’’ & ‘‘Loop’’, design products exhibited at The Old Sessions House, “London Design Festival”, London, UK
2012 - ‘‘What Made Me’’, participatory art, Idea Birmingham, The Mailbox, Birmingham, UK
2012 - “I, Culture” public participatory installation for The Adam Mickiewicz Institute, in collaboration with Urban Brew. The National Theatre, “Watch This Space Festival”, London, UK
2011 - ‘‘Poets’ Path’’, public participatory art for Faber&Faber, in collaboration with Urban Brew. “Bloomsbury Festival”, Russel Square Gardens, London, UK
Publications
2019 - “What Made Me’’ featured in ‘‘In the Street | Participatory Actions in Public Spaces’’, Corraini Edizioni, Milan, IT
2015 - “What Made Me’’ featured in ‘‘Playful Graphics: Graphic Design That Surprises’’, Sandu Publishing, CN
2014 - “What Made Me’’ featured in ‘‘Infographics – Designing & Visualizing Data’’, Sandu Publishing, CN
Awards
2023 - Arts Council England - DYCP Award
2019 - Beta Den - recipient of business start-up mentoring and funding programme, The Malverns, UK
2018 - Central Research Laboratory - recipient of business start-up mentoring and funding programme, Hayes, London, UK
2016 - Infocus Women in Innovation Award - Finalist, Innovate UK & Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN), London, UK
2012 - The Most Original Exhibit award by Idea Birmingham, ‘‘What Made Me’’ installation, Birmingham, UK
2010 - BSEEN scholarship for young entrepreneurs, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, UK
Talks
2020 - TEDx Banbury Countdown Virtual Event, as part of the TED Climate Change Countdown