“Radio” (2013) oil on canvas painting (20″ x 23″) by Paulina Gora.
One of the most enchanting artists featured in The Michael Aaron Gallagher Fine Art Collection is Paulina Gora (b. 1977). Born in Tuchów, Poland, her fanciful work is reminiscent of the wildly popular 1950’s big eye paintings of American artist Margaret Keane, whose pieces sell for as much as $45,000 and were showcased in the film “Big Eyes,” starring Amy Adams.
Michael first discovered Gora’s unique spin on the genre when he came across the painting “Radio” in an art auction and fell in love with her work. A perfect compliment to hang above his own antique radio, it became the first painting by the artist in The Collection. That year, he would go on to buy four more of her oil paintings from Neely Auction House in Lantana, Florida.
Paulina Gora painting in her studio. Photo courtesy of the artist.
In 2024, Michael acquired his sixth oil painting by Paulina Gora titled, “What If I’m Made of Stone?” from the Broward Auction Gallery in Dania Beach, Florida. The piece shows a blonde girl wearing a flowery dress with a rock and a rook chess piece in front of her.
Paulina Gora’s pop surrealist work is both magical and mysterious – a world all of it’s own. A masterful storyteller, whose inspiration is drawn from mythology and memories, it is as if her paintings are whimsical snapshots of characters in an animated landscape that is sometimes innocent and playful, while other times dark and haunting.
Perhaps most surprising, given her artistic precision and the care for which she constructs a dazzling visual masterpiece on canvas is how underrated her work is at art auctions in the United States. On her website, her paintings are listed for between 3000-19500 Polish Złoty (approximately $745-$4,842 U.S. Dollars). A phenomenal talent with an extraordinary creative vision for bringing an imaginary world to life, Paulina Gora is an exceptional artist with a big future ahead of her in the art world.
You can follow artist Paulina Gora on Instagram at @gora.paulina. To view more original works in The Michael Aaron Gallagher Fine Art Collection click here. For information about works that have been donated to the collection click here.
As a fan of the game of chess, Michael acquired the oil painting, “What If I’m Made of Stone” by artist Paulina Gora. The piece is 16″ x 20″ on canvas and was painted in 2021.
“Bernice’s Hair,” (2013) oil on canvas painting (17″ x 23″) by Paulina Gora.
“Zuzanna,” (2013) oil on canvas painting (17″ x 26″) by Paulina Gora.
“Untitled (2013),” oil on canvas painting (16″ x 20″) by Paulina Gora.
“Little Black Dress,” (2013) oil on canvas painting (16″ x 20″) by Paulina Gora.