ABOUT
MONA LERCH
ARTIST BIO
Mona Lerch is a contemporary mixed-media visual artist and entrepreneur residing in Brno, Czech Republic.
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After graduating with MSc in Criminology from London Metropolitan University, she pursued a career in internal security specializing in counterterrorism and hybrid threats while continuing with her creative passion – dancing, teaching and choreographing for one of the most prestigious dance studios in Prague, Czech Republic.
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Her health condition and the complicated birth of her son put a halt to dancing after almost 20 years of experience. Craving creativity as a tool for healing from traumatic experiences, she turned her attention to painting. Having realized that years spent in a predominantly male field (and once a dream career) didn’t fulfil her creative needs, she took the leap of faith and transitioned to a full-time artist in 2019.
Embracing the beauty of womanhood, Mona slowly shifted her focus from abstract expressionism to mixed media figurative work exploring body language, the realities of personal and spiritual growth and her intimate journey as a woman and mother living with a chronic condition. She highlights the power of shared experiences and invites her audience to engage in conversations about gender roles, societal expectations, polarities and empowerment.
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Mona's work is held in private collections in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, Ireland, United States, Austria, The Philippines, Australia, and The Hendrix, Jersey City Luxury Rentals, US.
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She's a part of Creative Lady Collective, Where Are The Women Artists /Art Girl Rising Directory, Visionary Art Collective, All SHE Makes & The Art Queens Society.
ARTIST STATEMENT
What started as a hobby that helped me relax and step away from all the world' s sorrows became a passion and purpose after suffering from postpartum trauma, depression and anxiety. Canvas, paper and wooden panels are my playgrounds - my performance stages where I give shape to both dark and light emotions, drawing inspiration from nature with its perfect imperfections, geometry and feminine energies.
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I embrace what it means to be a woman with my current body of work. I celebrate the strength, compassion, love and spirituality as all my pieces reflect my own spiritual awakening, setting boundaries, facing challenges and fearlessly going for my dreams and goals. Having worked in a predominantly male area for years, denying my femininity which I perceived as a weakness and being almost ashamed of being a young woman resulted in being diagnosed with a condition typically associated with failure to accept femininity. As I freed myself of everything that went against my body, mind and soul, I also managed to free myself of this condition realizing that I can create a ripple effect and empower other women to focus on long-term changes both in their lives and art practices.
Through my art and other activities I encourage them to be unapologetic, authentic and aware that we own our choices and decisions. I welcome the challenges that come with each technique as I shift between different media in my art process. I recently found joy in a technique that forced me to let go, experiencing unpredictable flow using graphite to sketch, inks to highlight, water, tea and alcohol to build the form and character of my pieces. On the other hand, my oil pieces reflect my need to learn to be patient and appreciate the process. Just like in life, the results appear over time and highlight the journey rather than the immediate goal. I work at one piece at a time; however, switching between collections has become a regular practice that allows me to create regardless of time and space availabilities.