July 2024 2-D Featured Artist Monika Urbanski

 

In 1992, Monika Urbanska moved from Tourn, Poland at the age of five with her family who were seeking diversity of environment and culture in the United States. They joined other family members who had previously moved to the US and lived in Connecticut. She did her undergraduate studies at Boston University, graduating with a BFA in 2005. She received her MFA in art therapy with an emphasis in counseling from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in 2016 after moving to Cape Coral in 2010.

“My interest in art was instituted by my mother who was a self-taught painter,” said Monika, “I started painting alongside her when I was in fourth grade, when she was diagnosed with cancer, and I observed the innate healing power of art that eventually led me to pursue a career in art therapy. I continue to love art and find being an artist has no wrong answer. You can enjoy creating art for the process or create a product for others to enjoy. I have loved being an art teacher to those with special needs and a painting instructor in a studio as well as working as an art therapist.”

Monika’s love of the ocean and environment is shown in her creations. She often utilizes reclaimed live edge wood as a substrate and repurposed discarded materials to further connect viewers to our local environment.