Helen Masacz

About

Helen Masacz is a painter based in Worthing. Her practice explores the nuances of human presence and inner life through figurative work. Drawing on the concept of 'ANIMA,' she investigates the ways in which individuals inhabit and interact with their environments, conveying a sense of internal landscape within defined spaces. Her paintings often delve into psychological depth, capturing moments of quiet introspection and connection. Masacz received her BA in Fine Art from Middlesex University. Her work has been exhibited at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition at The Mall Galleries (2026, 2021, 2011) and at The National Portrait Gallery (2004, 2010) and she is a regular participant in the Green and Stone Gallery's Summer Exhibition (2023, 2024, 2025). Notable accolades include the Living Prize from the Women in Art prize (2025) and the Arts Club Award from the Royal Society of Portrait Painters (2011). Her portrait of Dr. D Walford is held in the collection of Mansfield College, University of Oxford. Her current focus is on the series ‘Anima- Occupying Space’ which will be exhibited at her solo show from the 22nd October 2026 at Zebra One Gallery in Hampstead.

Statement

Why I Make ArtMaking art is simply my way of navigating life, finding clarity, and processing the world around me. Painting provides me with a vital, high-focus outlet—a practical way to guide my attention and channel my energy directly into the canvas. My work gives me the space where I can look at the harder, heavier parts of life, including past challenges, and make sense of them on my own terms. I know beauty exists, but I have no interest in sugar-coating it. I want to paint it through a realistic lens, finding a sharp, honest elegance in the things that refuse to break. Process My creative practice is deeply thematic. I begin each body of work with a broad overarching idea like Anima, which I develop painting by painting so that every individual piece links back to that central core and builds into a cohesive narrative. Working primarily in oils, my approach to visual references shifts depending on the subject. I paint some pieces entirely from life to capture an immediate, authentic presence, while I construct others by blending life studies, photographs, and my own imagination. Influences My work is shaped by artists who create a powerful atmospheric presence. I admire Michael Grimaldi and the modern Atelier movement for their precise anatomy and draftsmanship, which capture the quiet, focused feeling of a late-night studio. I am also drawn to the cinematic, heavily textured style of François Bard, who uses thick paint, deep blacks, and high contrast to give darkness a physical weight. While I love the storytelling and symbolism of the Pre-Raphaelites and the Northern Renaissance, I am equally moved by the raw emotion in Käthe Kollwitz’s art. All of these creators subconsciously guide me toward a specific mood—a dark, heavy, yet deeply human space where my work feels completely at home.

Education

• 2004 B A Fine Art, Middlesex University, London
• 2007 PGCE Art Education, Middlesex University, London

Exhibitions

Recognition

Commissions

I take commissions, portraits and still life

Starting from $759