Over the past decade, Natasza Niedziółka’s practice has featured hand-stitched thread on supports made from different materials including linen, cotton duck, and silk, highlighting the interplay between irregular manual embroidery and uniform structure. In her works, Niedziółka employs techniques of hatching and flat chromatic gradations. With each puncture of the needle, Niedziółka integrates modernist traditions into her interpretations, calling to mind artists such as Agnes Martin or Marcia Hafif. Her distinct materiality, use of subtle color, and intricate textures distinguishes Niedziółka’s work from more orthodox techniques, and offers the viewer meditative, visual experiences.

In response to political unrest brought on by current events worldwide, Niedziółka’s newest series, Protest Song considers how language is used as an act of protest. Writing in English, Polish and Ukrainian, the artist is inspired by the lyrics of songs that have come to represent a resistance to the abuses of power, empowerment, or glimpses of hope. From Stephan Czarnecki’s 1914 Ukrainian folk song Czerwona Kalina (Red Viburnum) to Lil Baby’s 2020 song of solidarity The Bigger Picture, the series spans a vast range of history defining moments. With careful precision, Niedziółka embroiders each word using reclaimed Italian silk in various hues. The verses weave across the canvas, occasionally leaving behind loose ends of thread, obscuring other words, evoking a sensual haptic quality.