Tate St Ives presents the first major UK exhibition of Małgorzata Mirga-Tas. She was born in Zakopane in Poland, and grew up in a Romani community in Czarna Góra, at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. Her visual storytelling is informed by a feminist perspective and a sustained engagement with her community, challenging stereotypical representations of Roma people. The artist is best known
for creating colourful textile collages made with materials and fabrics
gathered from family and friends.
Mirga-Tas brings attention to the everyday life of her community – their
relationships, alliances, and shared activities – by depicting those
closest to her, including family members, collaborators, fellow artists
and activists. Often working together with other women, she creates
patchworks from materials including curtains, jewellery, handkerchiefs,
shirts, and sheets, which are sewn together to form what she calls
'microcarriers of history’.
