“Having a little snail sit in a cramped computer office, or move out of an apartment alone is a caricature of our everyday stress,” explains Aleia Murawski, “it helps me contemplate life and process any changes I am going through.” In addition to snails (and a guinea pig named Beef) the Chicago-based visual artist collaborates with her friends Alex Wallbaum and Sam Copeland—creating surreal images of prosaic objects with the former, and miniature worlds with the latter. Murawski also creates video and photo work independently, though all of her creative ventures undeniably inform one another. This has garnered her a reputation for images that are seductive, and supernatural. Sunsets, roses, creamy Kraft Dinner, vibrant manicures—quotidian glimpses are defracted through multiple reflections, creating trompe-l’œil visuals. Impenetrable to most and occasionally occupied by snails, Murawski’s scenes inspire a romantic yearning to visit these uncanny dream-realms.
Sunsets, Snails & Kraft Dinner with Aleia Murwaski
PUBLISHED IN ISSUE 16
PHOTOS BY ALEIA MURAWSKI
TEXT BY REBECCA STORM
“Having a little snail sit in a cramped computer office, or move out of an apartment alone is a caricature of our everyday stress,” explains Aleia Murawski, “it helps me contemplate life and process any changes I am going through.” In addition to snails (and a guinea pig named Beef) the Chicago-based visual artist collaborates with her friends Alex Wallbaum and Sam Copeland—creating surreal images of prosaic objects with the former, and miniature worlds with the latter. Murawski also creates video and photo work independently, though all of her creative ventures undeniably inform one another. This has garnered her a reputation for images that are seductive, and supernatural. Sunsets, roses, creamy Kraft Dinner, vibrant manicures—quotidian glimpses are defracted through multiple reflections, creating trompe-l’œil visuals. Impenetrable to most and occasionally occupied by snails, Murawski’s scenes inspire a romantic yearning to visit these uncanny dream-realms.