Igora Lucyna Opala
Textile Felt Designer – Artist
Director of IgoraDesign ABN 84 465 429 426
Member and accredited Artist of Guildhouse, South Australia
Associate member of the World Craft Council-Asia Pacific Region representing the Barossa Regional Gallery
Education
Matriculated from Liceum Ogólnokształcące, Stalowa Wola, Poland. 1971
Graduated from the prestigious Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland majoring in environmental engineering. 1977
Post Graduate studies - Master of Science, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland 1978.
Professional Experience
High School Teacher, Poland 1978 – 1985
Research Assistant 1985 - 1987
Adelaide Botanic Gardens
Institute of Medical Veterinary Science, Biochemistry, Adelaide.
Medical Scientist, SA Pathology, Biochemistry department, Endocrine Unit. Adelaide. 1987 - 2013
Textile Felt Designer - Artist, Textile workshop facilitator and Mentor 2008 - present
Media
Website: http://www.igoradesign.com/
Email: igora@igoradesign.com.au
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/igoradesign/
Mobile: (+61) 0413 333 418
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/igoradesign
WeChat ID: Igora_Lucyna
Exhibitions
2022
“Focus on Textiles” Exhibition, Kapunda Community Gallery, Kapunda, SA, Australia, February 2022
2021
“Emergence” Vintage Festival Art Prize Exhibition, The Barossa Regional Gallery, Tanunda, SA, Australia, April 2021
2019
3rd Belt and Road Forum on International Cultural Heritage Cooperation and international Folk and Crafts Show, Jiangmen, Guandong, China, November 2019
The First International Handicrafters Festival, Kokand, Uzbekistan, September 2019
Petrichor Vintage Art Prize Exhibition, The Barossa Regional Gallery, Tanunda, SA, Australia, May 2019
2018
International Folk-Art Expo, Lijiang, Yunnan province, China, November 2018
Heirloom 2018 "An exhibition of exquisite things", QDOS Gallery, Lorne, Victoria, Australia. February 2018
Bloom Exhibition, Emma Hack Gallery, Adelaide, SA, Australia. January 2018
2017
International Folk Crafts & Cultural Products Expo, Gui’an, Guizhou Province, China. November 2017
Lasting Impressions: Botanical Memories on Wool & Silk Exhibition, The Barossa Regional Gallery, Tanunda, SA, Australia, July 2017
2016
Obsessed Dunhuang - Aesthetic Origin Silk Road Exhibition, College of Archeology and Museology, Peking University Art College, Beijing, China. November 2016
Obsessed with Dunhuang Exhibition, Dunhuang Research Academy, Dunhuang, China. September 2016
Design for Life Exhibition, Music Republic, West Bund, Shanghai, China. April 2016
The Modelling of the Medium Exhibition, The Fine Arts College of Shanghai University, Shanghai, China. April 2016
2015
Life & Design Expo, Venetian Hotel, Macau, China. November 2015
International Folk Crafts & Cultural Products Expo, Gui’an, Guizhou Province, China. September 2015
SALA 2015 Festival, “Short Stories' Exhibition at Bethany Wines, Tanunda, Barossa Valley, SA, Australia. August 2015
Public Art Coordination Centre, College of Fine Arts, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China. April 2015
2014
Exhibited at the World Craft Council Golden Jubilee Celebration Summit, Dongyang, China. October 2014
The Year of the Unsettled Sun and Blue Moon Exhibition, Waverley Homestead, Willunga, SA, Australia. April 2014
Emma Hack Art Prize Exhibition, Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide, SA, Australia. March 2014
2013
Amity Craft Exhibition, George Paton Gallery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic, Australia. November 2013
Atelier les Arts Gallery, L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. France. September 2013
Exhibited at International Forum “Felt Crossroads in Kyrgyzstan”, Museum of Fine Arts, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. July 2013
Exhibited at International Central Asian Festival “Oimo”, Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan. July 2013
Day dreamings: Unframed, Eagles Nest Fine Art Gallery, Aireys Inlet, Vic, Australia. May 2013
Tribute-HeartFelt Collection, Daylesford, Vic, Australia. March 2013
The Naked Fox, La Bohème, Adelaide, SA, Australia. February 2013
2012
Barossa Regional Gallery, Tanunda, SA, Australia. December -2012
The Journey, National Wool, Museum, Geelong, VIC, Australia. June 2012
The Canberra Times Crafts Expo, Exhibition Park, Canberra, ACT, Australia. February 2012
The Broken Boundaries: Art in Focus, Rogue Studios Chelsea, New York, NY, USA. January 2012
2011
Adornment Exhibition, Barossa Regional Gallery, Tanunda, Barossa Valley, SA, Australia. December 2011
Eternal Traveller, SALA 2011 Festival exhibition, Turkey Flat Winery, Tanunda, Barossa Valley, SA, Australia. August 2011
Canvas and Beyond Exhibition, Yankalilla, Fleurieu Peninsula, SA, Australia. April 2011
Beyond the Surface Exhibition, Yankalilla, Fleurieu Peninsula, SA, Australia. April 2011
4th Exhibition of International Contemporary Masters, Southern Nevada Museum of Fine Art, Neonopolis Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. April 2011
esCapes Exhibition, The Milk Factory, Bowral, NSW, Australia. April 2011
Jane Place Markets, Barossa Vintage Festival, Tanunda, Barossa Valley, SA, Australia. April 2011
2010
Gallery One, Mitcham, SA. Australia. December 2010
BMW Adelaide Fashion Week, Glenelg, SA. Australia. November 2010
Juxtaposes Studios, Cinema Place, Adelaide, SA. Australia. September 2010
SALA 2010 Festival, Glenelg Art Gallery, Glenelg, SA. Australia. August 2010
SALA 2010 Festival, Santos Conservation Centre Gallery, Adelaide, SA. Australia. August
SALA 2010 Festival, Made in Japan, Hyde Park, SA. Australia. August 2010
Grand Hotel, Glenelg, SA. Australia. May 2010
Glenelg Art Gallery, Glenelg, SA, Australia. May 2010
STARS Gallery, Willunga, Fleurieu Peninsula, SA, Australia. April 2010
2009
SALA 2009 Festival, STARS Gallery, Willunga, Fleurieu Peninsula, SA. Australia. August 2009
Invited -Artist
Invited to open “Love Felt Life” textile exhibition at Pepper Street Arts Centre, Magill, South Australia. April 2023
Invited speaker by Mitcham Felters, GalleryOne, Mitcham, South Australia, March 2023
Invited speaker by Handspinners & Weavers Guild of South Australia. Mile End, South Australia, June 2022
Invited by Sand River Fashion to run “Handmade Felt and Plant Printing and Dyeing research camp in Shanghai, China, July 2019
World Craft Council Asia Pacific Region Speaker series in Crafts and Culture.
“Igora's HeartFELT Journey" at University of Melbourne, School of Design, Melbourne, Victoria Australia. June 2019
Invited to participate as a World Master of Handicraft at “The Belt and Road International Forum for Cultural Heritage Cooperation and Exchange 2018” Beijing University, Central Academy of Fine Arts City Design School, Beijing, China, November 2018
Artist Studio Saturday's @ SA Art Collective, Emma Hack Gallery, Adelaide, SA, Australia, May 2018
Opened “Earth Poetry” exhibition at the Red Poles Gallery in McLaren Vale. The exhibition featured 4 artists including Peter Griffin – abstract painter (Sydney), Denise Lithgow – felter (Sydney), Wendy Lithgow – jeweller (Adelaide) and Wendy Redden – mixed media (Adelaide), McLaren Vale, SA, Australia, April 2018
Artist in residence at the Dunhuang Research Academy, Dunhuang, China. September 2016
Invited to teach felting in Dalian, Liaoning Province, China. July 2016
Artist in residence at Shanghai University, Shanghai, China. April 2016
Conduct Masterclasses in textiles at the Public Art Coordination Centre, College of Fine Arts, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China. April 2015
To teach and exhibit at Public Art Coordination Centre, College of Fine Arts, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China. April 2015
Australian representative at the World Craft Council (WCC) Golden Jubilee Celebration Summit in Dongyang, China. October 2014
Invited to participate in the 2014 Nantong International Contemporary Craft Biennale Forum, 1895 Culture Creative Industry Park, Gangxia District, Nantong, China. October 2014
Invited as a tutor by Fibre Arts Australia to teach at the BIG FELT event, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. July 2014
Australian representative at International Forum “Felt Crossroads in Kyrgyzstan”, Museum of Fine Arts, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. July 2013
Australian representative at International Central Asian Festival “Oimo”, Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan. July 2013
Workshops
“Traces of Me” workshops-Mitcham Felters group, Gallery One, Mitcham, SA, Australia, September 2022
Felting with Igora Workshop, The Barossa Regional Gallery, Tanunda, SA, Australia, June 2021
Handmade Felt and Plant Printing and Dyeing research camp, Sand River Fashion Co., Ltd, Jinshan District, Shanghai, China July 2019
Botanical Printing with Igora workshops, The Barossa Regional Gallery, Tanunda, SA, Australia, May 2018
Felt My Way with Igora workshops, The Barossa Regional Gallery, Tanunda, SA, Australia, May 2018
Botanical Printings on Wool & Silk workshops, The Barossa Regional Gallery, Tanunda, SA, Australia, July 2017
Fantastic Felt Forms & Jewellery, Art in Algarve, Olhao, Portugal, May 2017
Masterclasses in textiles at the Dunhuang Research Academy, Dunhuang, China. September 2016
Invited to teach felting in Dalian, Liaoning Province, China. July 2016
Masterclasses in textiles at the Public Art Coordination Centre, College of Fine Arts, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China. April 2015
Invited to teach at Public Art Coordination Centre, College of Fine Arts, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China. April 2015
Tutor for Fibre Arts Australia to teach at the BIG FELT event, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. July 2014
Felting Workshops, Don Pyatt, Norwood, SA, Australia. May 2011
Fundamental Felting Workshop, Santos Conservation Centre, Adelaide, SA. Australia. August 2010
Fundamental and Nuno Felting Workshops, STARS Gallery, Willunga,. SA. Australia July 2010
Awards
WORLD CRAFT COUNCIL AWARD FOR AILEEN INTERNATIONAL CRAFTS COMPETITION 2014
Awarded for excellent design and exquisite craftsmanship at the World Craft Council Golden Jubilee Celebration Summit in Dongyang, China. October 2014.
WORLD CRAFT COUNCIL AWARD OF EXCELLENCE FOR HANDICRAFT 2014
Awarded by an international panel of experts of the World Craft Council in Jakarta, Indonesia. Award acknowledges the innovation of combining felt and silk into beautifully designed pieces with harmonius colours. September 2014.
THE CANBERRA TIMES CRAFT EXPO 2012 CHAMPION, AUSTRALIA
Awarded "The Canberra Times Craft Expo" Champion. Achieved this award by becoming the Champion and Reserve Champion in two Categories and included 3 First prizes, 2 Second prizes and 3 Third prizes in various categories. 2012
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL WOOL MUSEUM SCARF FESTIVAL 2012 "THE JOURNEY" BEST THEMATIC SCARF 2012
Winner the "Best thematic scarf" category at the National Wool Museum scarf festival 2012 "The Journey". My entry "Desert After Rain" was selected from among 275 entries at the National Wool Museum scarf festival as the winner of the "Best thematic scarf" category. June 2012
Publications
Philosophy of Handicraft, ISBN 978-7-5598-4714-0, Chapter, April 2022
Vogue China, August 2019
New Maker, ISSN 1671-7740, Chapter, 2018
Art In Focus: The Modern Masters , Chapter, 2012
International Contemporary Masters Volume IV , World Wide Art Books. 2011
Reviews
Adelaide Review July 2011
"art on a plate" article described Igora as “The poet in the DB 2011 pack appears to be Igora Lucyna Opala at Turkey Flat Vineyards. Her "textile art creations" are described as an expression of physical, spiritual and emotional experiences gathered from our natural surroundings, its people, their stories and their feelings.”
Carol Sax the PR & Promotions Manager of the Tomeo & Laslett Pharmacy Group wrote in July 2012
“Better Health Pharmacies were fortunate to showcase Igora Designs exquisite fashions as part of a Fashion and Beauty Event that we held in North Adelaide; each piece was a unique fashion statement, which added to the overall success of our event, and I thank Igora for this opportunity.”
Lisa Bentley, projects manager of "Art Approach" New York in June 2011
"The works are just beautiful- perhaps the most striking quality above all else in these works your work is the attention to the subtle and magical power of light, and the energy of composition. When combined with a focused subjectivity they engender luminescent surfaces that glow with a special radiance not usually encountered by work of this kind. There is an understated incandescence to these images that is nostalgic and mystical all at once. You position yourself in the theatrical realm through the dream-like fantastical quality of the imagery almost Surreal, yet not quite there, as if some ghostly memory from a heavenly far-away place; producing a work which resonates with the viewer long after viewing."
Carol Cling wrote in the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL in April 2011
“Around the world in a day make that around the world -- on a wall. That's what happens while perusing one gallery wall of the "International Contemporary Masters IV" exhibit at the Southern Nevada Museum of Fine Art, Neonopolis complex. Igora’s textile hanging from Australia, depicting a coral reef.
AMANDA RISHWORTH MP member for Kingston in her adjournmen speech in Federal parliament on the18th august 2009
said that… “It was the work of Igora Lucyna Opala, hand crafted felt which had been made out of wool and silk. It included beautiful shawls, wall hangings and scarves. One thing that Igora mentioned was that they were all made with intense creativity and an intense amount of love. They were bold and beautiful works, and you could see appreciation on the faces of everyone who attended the exhibition."
NISEKO GOURMET JAPAN wrote about Igora's exhibition August 2009
"We’ve been trying to do and see as much as we can whilst here and keeping the focus on things that we love, Food, Wine, Art and Design, have been visiting as many displays as possible to see what is out there inspiring people creatively. We were present at the opening of an amazing display of ‘felting’ by Lucy Opala last month through SALA and recently made a visit again to hear about her Igora Design. Lucy has essentially, out of love for this art form, taken her work with felting to the highest level. What surprised her most was the amazing success of the exhibition and the sheer number of people who were amazed by the quality of her work. With 75% of the exhibition being sold and in excess of 70% to new customers she was just grateful to be able to exhibit and have her work praised by people from all walks of life, so much so that these absolutely amazing pieces have captured the eye of politicians, socialites and industry personnel all over Australia.”
Pam Jarvis editor of TANGO AUSTRALIS wrote in September 2009 TANGO AUSTRALIS edition
Igora designs Australian textile masterpieces "In 1995 we visited a Canadian Museum and saw an exhibition of Landscape Kimonos created by Itchiku Kubota. We were transported by the beauty of the exquisite workmanship and artistry of the tsujigahana pattern-dyed silks crafted into a ?Symphony of Light' depicting the transition of the seasons. Now, decades later in Willunga in a rural arts venue as part of the SALA festival, we had a similar experience on seeing the silk and wool felt creations of Igora Lucyna Opala.
Igora the artist, is also a Tanguera, well known for her extraordinary dress sense and the wonderful outfits she puts together for tango, especially themed events. Her "Queen of the Night" outfit at La Luna Milonga at the Buenos Aires at the Beach Tango Festival several years ago was unforgettable. Like Itchiku Kobota, Igora Lucyna's work comes close to capturing the flow of Nature"s grand design. In addressing the perpetuity of transformation, her reverence for Nature is manifest in all her creations, from grand vision wall panels to lovely wearable pieces. It was a marvellous exhibition – an Australian symphony of colour, light and texture. Expect to see Igora designs worn by many tango ladies – the exhibition was a sell-out!."