Meet the Artists
Jola (Yola) Pawlowska
Paper Cutting Artist
What I most enjoy about paper-cutting is the opportunity and challenge to interpret forms by creating dimensions through colour, cutting and layering. I find great satisfaction in honing my skills and technique and subsequently the reward of delivering on the most difficult elements, achieving intricacy and fine detail. – J. Pawlowska
Born in Torun, Poland in ’48, to artist parents Jola is youngest of six children. Her and her oldest sister were inspired at an early age by creativity, passion and dedication for the arts through their mother, graphic artist and art teacher and father, artist and book conservator.
As a child and young adult, Jola dedicated most of her time to learning and participating in performing arts.
Emerging in Poland
Interest and experience in the fine arts grew rapidly in her early 20’s during her time with the Children’s Puppet Theatre (Torun, Poland ’70 - ’80). There through puppetry, creation of puppets and scenography for shadow plays, Jola's passion for paper-cut art was born.
Jola debuted as an emerging young artist in a solo exhibition in ’73, after which she continued to exhibit across Poland and in Germany (’73 - ’79).
These early exhibitions lead to several commissions, including commercial work for POLAND international magazine, creating six publication covers of Polish townscapes (’75 – ’81).
Jola's work fast became part of private collections across the globe including that of Pope John Paul II (Polish coat of arms).
Migrating to Australia
Migrating to Melbourne, Australia in ’82, Jola worked as a textile designer (’84 - ‘94) and continued to exhibit (group exhibitions ’84 - ’85 and sold-out solo show ‘86).
In ’84 she co-founded and taught at the Polish Art and Drama School (Windsor, Melbourne ’84 - ’87). At this time, Jola revisited her love of the preforming arts and toured as a performing artist with Lowicz Polish music and dance ensemble (’86 - ’95).
From ’95 to 2015, she continued to produce work for private commissions and dabbled in other art forms as family took precedence.
Since participated in Dandenong Ranges Open Studios (’17 – ’18) and exhibited at group shows, Jola has worked collaboratively and solo under the name 'YOLA and DARIA' on a number of private commissions.
During 2019 Jola have been busy working on 'Stories Behind the Façade' exhibition, producing paper cut-outs of five significant heritage buildings in the Dandenong Ranges.
Sam (Daria) Moon
Graphic Artist/illustrator, freelancing in design and marketing
While my design decisions are derived from extensive research in to my subject, as an artist I am inspired daily by my two beautiful little girls and my interest in architecture, modernism, poster art, pop surrealism and natural history. – S. Moon
Born in Belgrade, Serbia in ’76, to artist mother, I was inspired at an early age by her creativity, discovering my own artistic ability and passion for fine art in early primary school years.
Developing a career
In my late teens I began producing computer generated art and the exploring possibility of graphic design as a vocation. After a short time at RMIT studying Applied Design I completed a graphic design internship at a studio.
Disheartened by the experience I opted to work in a different industry and only occasionally dabble in freelance graphic design.
By my late 20’s I worked in a desktop publishing role in a global publishing company. During my time there seeking new creative outlets in multimedia design and development I completed Multimedia Design at Swinburne.
Shortly after I went on to work as a multimedia designer on a breadth of projects for a video production company. This experience became a springboard for my future in digital as it enabled me to secure a digital media role with the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria.
My career at the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria spanned over 11 year. At first working on designing, developing and implementing websites and producing graphic design, which then in later years lead to web project management and digital and social media content production/management. (’05 – ’17)
Freelancing since 2017 I have had the opportunity to work on a wide range of projects as a graphic designer, marketing consultant and project manager.
During 2019 I have been project managing, designing and illustrating 'Stories Behind the Façade' exhibition.
To learn more about our practice please visit Inside our Studio page, to see our creative experience head to Creative CV and if you would like to read a little more about what inspires us check out the Q&A at Beneath the Surface.