Artist Statement
My work explores the space between fragility and strength, often uncovering moments of light within complexity. I am drawn to abstraction as a way of expressing what cannot always be articulated through words. Layer, texture, colour, and movement become a visual language through which emotion, memory, and lived experience take shape.
The works presented in this exhibition were created through an intuitive process of painting, collage, texture, and mark-making. Working on a small-scale offered an opportunity to create contained worlds—compositions where fragments, patterns, and surfaces interact to create movement and discovery. Although petite in size, each work is built through multiple layers and holds its own visual complexity.
My process is rarely completely predetermined. I begin with colour, gesture, material, or an instinctive response and allow the work to evolve through a conversation with the surface. Layers may be covered, removed, disrupted, or revealed as the composition develops. Collage introduces fragments of imagery and pattern, while texture creates physical depth and encourages the viewer to move closer.
I am interested in the tension between spontaneity and intention—between what is controlled and what is discovered along the way. These small mixed-media pieces invite an intimate encounter, rewarding curiosity and close observation.
Ultimately, my approach is about creating spaces for reflection, connection, and possibility, where viewers can discover their own meanings within the layers.
Biography
Crystal Koskinen is a Canadian mixed media artist whose work navigates the space between fragility and strength, often revealing moments of light within complexity. Through expressive, layered compositions, she explores emotion, intuition, and storytelling, translating lived experience into visual form while capturing both tension and harmony within a single frame.
Koskinen’s practice moves fluidly between painting, collage, mixed media, public art, and immersive creative experiences. Drawn to abstraction and intuitive mark-making, she explores the relationships between colour, texture, pattern, and form. Her process often involves building and responding to layers, allowing unexpected materials and visual moments to influence the direction of a work.
Whether working on an intimate miniature piece or a large-scale public installation, Koskinen is interested in creating work that invites curiosity and connection. Through her brand RAKKAUS Art & Design, she extends her visual language into curated collections across functional and wearable forms.
As the founder of Balanced Forces, a curated global exhibition platform and immersive augmented reality series, Koskinen also brings together artists worldwide through thematic exhibitions that explore connection, dialogue, and new ways of experiencing art.
Across her practice, Koskinen remains committed to storytelling, experimentation, and creating spaces where creativity feels accessible, exploratory, and deeply connected to the human experience.
Website: rakkausartanddesign.com
Facebook: facebook.com/crystal.koskinen
Instagram: @ckfromtbay