Karolina Koblen (1988) is a painter based in Prague, Czechia. In her work, she often delves into the reservoirs of memories, capturing hazy and almost forgotten moments, focusing on the psychology of a young person navigating the challenges of not quite fitting into societal molds. She collects stories from friends, from books and songs, as well as she explores personal experiences as a neurodivergent teen in a small town. Karolina’s paintings often embrace the juxtaposition of watery neon acrylics and a realistic oil paint approach. This fusion results in dreamy, transparent yet boldly colored ethereal landscapes of memory and emotion. There’s also a strong nod to the aesthetic that enveloped Karolina’s childhood in the 1990s and around the turn of the millennium. The interplay of these contrasting mediums mirrors the intricacies of the human psyche, where the boundaries between reality and imagination blur.
