Internationally recognized Ottawa artist, Margaret Chwialkowska, works primarily in the Ottawa area, focusing on the banks of the Ottawa River and the forests of the Gatineau Hills, working to capture both, its timeless grandeur and the ever-changing moods.
Her work, distinguished by vibrant, almost fantastical colours and dramatic textures, has been honoured by numerous artistic awards.
In 2018, she was named a finalist for the Ottawa Arts Council Mid-Career Artist Award.
She paints “alla prima," blending pigments together on canvas using a palette knife; this technique permits a loose, spontaneous style allowing texture to evolve naturally.
The goal of her painting is to evoke the mood of a natural setting and to capture the feeling of being overwhelmed by the natural, almost magical beauty of a landscape.
She is represented by Canadian Art Galleries and her works are in private and corporate collections in Canada, US, Europe, Middle East and South America.
Margaret was born and educated in Poland.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

Art, for me, is a process of discovery and a form of communication, a journey through color, texture, movement and emotion. Each piece begins with a spark—an emotion, a memory, or a fleeting observation—that I translate into visual form. My work explores the interplay between the seen and the unseen, inviting viewers to pause and reflect on the subtle narratives woven into everyday life.
I am drawn to the tension between structure and spontaneity, often allowing intuition to guide my hand while remaining attentive to composition and detail.
Through my art, I hope to foster a sense of connection—between myself and the viewer, and between the viewer and their own inner world. Each piece is an invitation to look closer, to find meaning in nuance, and to experience the quiet power of visual storytelling.