About
Karolina Merska is originally from Poland and moved to London in 2007 shortly after obtaining an MA in History of Art at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow.
Her work is focused on folklore, its unique customs and reviving traditional forgotten crafts.
Inspired by Polish folk art, she started making traditional Polish straw & paper chandeliers called pajaki (pah-yonk-ee) in 2015. Their history dates back to the mid 18th century. They were made by country women as decorations for their homes especially for Christmas, Easter, as well as for weddings and christenings. Suspended from a ceiling in a main room, amongst colourful paper cut-outs, paintings and paper flowers they became a popular decoration in polish village houses. They were a symbol of harvest and happiness in the New Year. Today the tradition is practised less and less.
Integrating traditional techniques she learnt from Polish folk artists as well as experimenting with new materials and patterns, Karolina keeps pajaki tradition alive.
Karolina loves sharing her knowledge and teaches pajaki workshops in her studio in East London and around the world. Since 2019 she also runs her online gallery Folka, where she shares stories about artists she met during her travels and presents their unique crafts.
Karolina’s first book “Making Mobiles. Create Beautiful Polish Pajaki from Natural Materials” has been published in May 2021.
Her work has been celebrated internationally and publicised by Channel 4, The World of Interiors, House and Garden, Elle Decoration, The Telegraph, Time Out, Harper’s Bazaar and many more. Exhibitions featuring Karolina’s work include the London Design Festival, London Craft Week, Bengaluru ByDesign Festival.
