About Izabela
Izabela Valentia Pakan is a Dutch-Slovakian artist based in Groningen, the Netherlands. She holds a degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences from the University of Groningen, where she specialised in Health and Life Sciences and Neurosciences. Although her academic background lies in science, art has remained a constant throughout her life, eventually leading her to dedicate herself fully to developing her practice as an artist.
Largely self-taught, Pakan approaches painting with a deep curiosity about both the visible world and the experiences that shape us. Her practice explores themes of identity, memory, nostalgia and human connection, with a particular interest in the ways people are shaped by their relationships, surroundings and personal histories. She is drawn to the idea that we carry fragments of the people, places and experiences we encounter throughout our lives, and seeks to translate these fleeting and intangible aspects of being human into something tangible.
Her work is rooted in observation, romanticisim and atmosphere, often drawing from personal experiences and the natural environments around her. Through painting, she explores the space between the familiar and the remembered, creating works that invite a sense of recognition, emotion and reflection.
Having spent much of her artistic life working independently, Pakan is currently expanding her practice through formal artistic education and continued experimentation. Her scientific and interdisciplinary background continues to inform the way she observes the world, while painting provides a more intuitive and emotional language through which to understand it.
The Work
At the centre of Pakan's practice is an interest in the human experience: the memories we preserve, the relationships that shape us, and the places that become intertwined with our sense of identity. Her paintings seek to hold onto moments that are often difficult to articulate, the atmosphere of a place, the feeling attached to a memory, or the quiet familiarity of a shared experience.
Pakan is particularly interested in the tension between observation and intuition. While her work often begins with something observed in the world, she allows the process of painting to become increasingly instinctive, using colour, light, texture and gesture to evoke rather than simply reproduce what she sees.
Her practice is continually evolving. She is interested in pushing beyond what feels safe or expected, allowing experimentation and spontaneity to play a greater role in her work. Ultimately, Pakan aims to create paintings that feel both deeply personal and universally recognisable, works that allow viewers to find something of their own memories, experiences and emotions within them.
