What would you expect of the great-great granddaughter of a Circus Strongman and a Russian aristocrat who fled to marry her love and perform as the Circus Snake-Charmer?

That she would be strong? bold? That she would grow up to cherish powerful, rebellious women?

Absolutely. Meet D.O.M., (Dominika Zurawska), a strong, capable woman who has found a way to share of all of this through her powerful art.  Her strong coloration and bold women full of life are impossible to pass by in an exhibition without feeling their impact.

D.O.M. cherishes these female rebels with each big fat paint stroke.

And who was the bold woman who inspired her the most? Madonna – first as her inspiration in life, and then as her muse.

“When I was young, I had to be the strong one.  I had to support my parents and younger brother, it was a difficult time,” says D.O.M. Back then, even her art was difficult. “I went to Art School, and my teachers told me I should never paint.  They said I could sculpt or do other art but my paintings were worthless.”

While working in a coffee house, she finally really listened to Madonna’s messages. She realized how strong Madonna really was, what a rebel she’d been, and found a hero in spirit that has helped support her own bold spirit through hard times. Madonna made a huge impact on her life.

After a leg injury left her disabled for a time, she decided to paint on the canvases she’d bought for school to pass the time.  Her Manager saw them and suggested that she hang them at the shop and have an exhibition.  D.O.M. said, “but my paintings are worthless!”  The Manager hung them anyway. There were 9 of them. 8 sold.

D.O.M. married, and eventually took an office job to help support her young and growing family. Thirteen months ago, with a one-year-old baby, D.O.M. was laid off. In a bold, Madonna-like move, D.O.M. decided that she should pursue her artwork. And that she had one year to make it.

Since then, she has been in 8 different exhibitions in 3 countries,with another coming soon in Glasgow ( January 2016 ), the next in Lost Angeles (April 2016) and after that, New York (November 2016).

I met her at the Parallax Art Fair in London, where she was showing several of her Rebel Women series, http://bit.ly/1TPMskN all based on her muse, Madonna.  “I didn’t want Madonna to think I was using her to get publicity and sales, so I changed them”, says D.O.M., of the Rebel Women works, “but she (Madonna) inspired them all.”

D.O.M. was the busiest of all of the 200+ artists at the Fair. We joked about making up t-shirts that say, “Buy My Art so I don’t have to go Back to the OFFICE!”

She didn’t need the t-shirt. She’s now selling well and has several commissions lined up. Her art is now collected in 6 countries. She has won awards. But is that enough?

Nope. “I really want Madonna to have my painting of her,” says D.O.M., “and I want to be there when she sees it! She changed my life.”

When we Skyped to interview for this piece, D.O.M. was busy painting a masterful Madonna, whose eyes dare you to see her as anything but powerful. Madonna’s just gotta see this one.

Help her out! If you have connections or have connections that have connections, pass along the word, would you? Help this talented painter meet her hero and her muse, and give Madonna the painting.

@domartstudio

Links:

D.O.M.’s website

Artistasy.com Interview with D.O.M.

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btw, it worked.  Madonna got the painting – and D.O.M.’s going strong.  Check out her website or FB page.