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Studio Updates, New Beginnings & a Big Arrival
Hi Friend, I hope this note finds you well. This is my first newsletter—something I’ve been meaning to do for a while. It’s a way to share updates on my studio practice, exhibitions, and life happenings, much like a good studio visit conversation. No call to action, no pressure, just a window into what’s been unfolding. My aim is to send an update 3 or 4 times per year, as the last thing I want to do is to clog your inbox.
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| | |  | In September, I started my MFA in Painting at RISD. It’s been an exciting and intense time—full of energy, new ideas, and a fresh momentum in my practice. While painting has been present, my focus these past few months has gravitated toward drawing, printmaking (intaglio), and papermaking. |
|  | Figure GroundEtching , 2024 |
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|  | Untitled Charcoal on paper , 2024 |
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| I’ve been especially engaged with working in the diptych format, exploring relationships between multiple canvases, how they speak to one another, and how separation can enhance meaning. There’s something intriguing about the tension and conversation that happens between two connected but independent surfaces. |
|  | Untitled Charcoal, bees wax on paper , 2024 |
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|  | Among Olive TreesOil on canvas (canvas partially deconstructed) , 2024 |
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| As I begin my 2nd semester and work into the next few months, I plan to bring painting back to the foreground in a more intentional way, incorporating elements of what I’ve learned through these different mediums. |
| | Upcoming Exhibition at the RISD Museum |
|  | A significant milestone this year: I’ve been given the opportunity to organize an exhibition at the Gelman Gallery within the RISD Museum. It’s an incredible honor, and I feel very proud to be taking this on. The exhibition title is “In Between: The Spaces of Belonging “ the show will run from April 25th – June 1st, 2025 An opening reception will be held on Thursday, April 24th. 20 N Main St, Providence, RI 02903 The exhibition revolves around the ways in which individuals and collectives find a sense of belonging. It explores the experience of living between two worlds, identities, or communities, and the emotional landscapes that shape this liminal space. It’s a deeply personal and abstract theme—one that resonates with my own practice and those of the artists involved. More details to come, but I’m looking forward to sharing how this unfolds. |
| | A Life-Changing Arrival: Welcome, Ronan |
|  | The biggest update of all—our son, Ronan, was born in February. Claire and I are completely in awe of him. It’s surreal, beautiful, and overwhelming in the best way. I had been wondering how I would feel stepping into fatherhood—how my perspective, my work, and my sense of time would shift. Now that he’s here, I’m still in the thick of those questions, navigating a new rhythm. The days are long and short at the same time, filled with quiet moments of wonder and exhaustion. I don’t know yet how this will affect my paintings, but I suspect it will in ways I can’t fully anticipate. For now, I’m just soaking it all in. |
| | |  | View of Mt. Fuji from our honeymoon |
| Looking back on the past year, 2024 began with a honeymoon to Japan—a trip that felt like a dream. We traveled through Hirosaki, Tokyo, Kyoto, and the Mt. Fuji region, experiencing the cherry blossoms in full bloom. Claire and I were married in December 2023 and waited until spring to celebrate in Japan—a decision that felt just right! |
| | | With so many shifts happening at once, I’m excited to see where things go—both in the studio and in life. For now, I’m embracing the unknown, staying open to change, and painting through it all. If you’ve made it this far, thanks for reading. I’ll share more soon.
With all my best,
Pavol
RISD Painting MFA Candidate '26 Artist www.pavolroskovensky.com proskove@risd.edu |
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