Investigation meetings 1 Painting

Barbara Pokryszka was born in Bilgoraj in Poland. Both of her parents are artists. She spent her childhood in her father Stanislaw Pokryszka’s art studio. In the early nineties she went to Bernard Morando art school in Zamosc. At the millennium she went to the University of Marii Curie Sklodowska in Lublin to study art to become the painter, illustrator, sculptor, poet that she is today. From 1999-2002 Barbara was the proprietor of her own gallery in Krasnobrod, a tourist town in Poland. From 2001- 2008 she was the proprietor of Art Gallery in Bilgoraj. Her paintings are in private collection in Poland and many other countries. She came to UK in 2008. Barbara came to London to broaden her horizons and hopefully develop her art. She found work at the Hilton hotel, the hours were long and the pay very low. Barbara took on her employers in many fights, and encouraged her colleagues to organise. As a result of her actions she suffered harassment from the management and was subsequently suspended from work. Barbara decided to paint from her memories of working at the hotel to highlight the plight of hotel workers, and to encourage workers to fight for their rights. These paintings " The Helltown hotel" depict scenes of a hotel workplace behind the smiles of the charming staff. Barbara’s fight is ongoing.