As the opening guests arrived, I could feel the air thickening with the buildup of emotions. I’ve opened quite a few of my exhibitions before, but this one was going to be different.
Excitement and joy were mixed with a dose of the difficult emotions that the stories of the women I photographed bring, and with a profound sadness at the thought that Beata would no longer be with us.

Just before the opening, a woman approached me with her partner.
“Don’t you recognize me?”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t.”
Ela pointed to her portrait hanging nearby, from which a bald woman was staring.
“That’s me,” Ela confirmed.
She stood in front of me, smiling, her dark, long curls a storm of movement. Her partner kissed her on the temple and said:
“This is what we look like now.”

All my task-mindedness—manifested in the ability to keep my emotions in check when there is work to be done—melted away completely. My emotions took over, and I already knew I wouldn’t be able to hold them back much longer.
As soon as I began speaking at the exhibition opening, tears came to my eyes, and the words got stuck in my throat. And after the speeches… 🙂

The Portrait of a Woman (Portret Kobiety) exhibition is a beautiful summary of three editions of photo sessions for women experiencing oncology, held as part of the Art in the Service of Spirit and Body cycle, organized by the Art for Life Foundation, in the name of Marta Paradecka, with curatorial supervision by Monika Wachowicz.

Monika invited me to collaborate with her in 2021. She wanted the photo shoots to be part of a series she was organizing, alongside other events such as theatre performances, workshops, relaxation concerts, and yoga classes.
I’ve had the opportunity to be part of the event every year since then. I’ve conducted a total of four photo shoots (including the most recent one in September 2024), with 12 locations in each edition. The sessions take place in my Portrait Studio in Katowice, and the makeup is done by Anna Musioł.

I photograph in black and white, honoring the minimalism I like and appreciate. With this simple form, I focus on the character and personality of the person being portrayed, trying to reach something deeper.
These are unusual encounters. It’s all about being—having a good time, embarking on a fun adventure—although, of course, for some women, standing in front of the lens at this difficult time of illness or afterward, with a changed body, can be an act of courage. There is no single pattern here. There are women who enter the studio with aplomb, exposing their scars, uncovering their bald heads. And then there are those who try to overcome fear, shame, and embarrassment.
We drink coffee, eat biscuits, and talk—sometimes about the illness, sometimes not at all. We laugh, and sometimes we cry. It’s a good time, so fulfilling.

Each participant provides me with a quote or their own “words for life” to be placed under their portrait.
These words can offer guidance, support, and comfort. For example:

Dorota: “Life is just a journey! Therefore, live today! There may be no tomorrow.” — Charlie Chaplin

Ania: “Just don’t worry all day. Set an hour for it, and then enjoy life.” — Rev. Jan Kaczkowski

Paulina: Appreciate everything you have, believe in yourself, enjoy the moment… Be happy.

Basia: “Our life is what our thoughts have made it.” — Marcus Aurelius

Ania: What is important in life is life.

I print out the entire series of photographs, place them in a box, and give them to the participants on the closing day of the series, which traditionally ends with a theatre event—the monodrama In Suspense (W zawieszeniu) by Monika Wachowicz, directed by Arti Grabowski.

The first installment of the Portrait of a Woman exhibition took place at the Korez Theatre Gallery in Katowice in October and November 2024, presenting over 30 portraits of our heroines. Hopefully, we will soon be able to show the exhibition in other cities, adding the 12 most recent photographs from the latest edition of the cycle (2024).

This project also holds a personal significance for me. In 2010, my mum passed away, 10 years after being diagnosed with breast cancer.
There is a lot of talk these days about prevention—not just about regular check-ups, but also about prevention in a much broader sense. We now know how important lifestyle is: diet, maintaining good physical health, managing emotions, and working through traumas.

I dedicate Portrait of a Woman to my Mum.