Bogna (Bogusława Chmielewska)

I am a visual artist, tattoo artist, and graphic designer. I graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts. I have always painted and drawn, and for over 26 years I worked as a designer in the advertising and creative industries.
Earlier, since high school, my artistic education was deeply connected to a focus on art therapy. Today, tattooing fulfills this role and has been a part of my journey since late 2018. I am most drawn to working with a person’s story: tattooing over scars and creating cover-ups to transform old designs. I believe that a tattoo can help close an old chapter and allow you to feel that your body is truly “yours” once again.
I paint and exhibit my work. My most recent painting exhibition, titled “SZCZELINY,” took place at the Brzeg Cultural Center in September of this year. I have led drawing workshops and collaborated with the Gębiczyn Foundation, which supports marginalized communities. I also create handicrafts and small functional objects.
For me, art, tattooing, and design form a single ecosystem—these areas intertwine and mutually strengthen one another. In the future, I would like to teach others, sharing both my craft and the courage to create.