New York, NY. Porter Contemporary is pleased to announce, Women of Power, a solo photography exhibition by Katarzyna Majak from May 31 through July 14, 2012 with an opening reception with the artist on May 31 from 6:30 – 8:30 PM.

Katarzyna Majak explores the power of women as she searches for female wisdom and plurality of spiritual paths hidden within monoreligious Polish society. Majak’s Women of Power series turns stereotypical witch imagery on its head and showcases striking images of women ranging from their 30’s to 80’s, wearing colorful unconventional clothes, and holding their unique objects of power. When asked what being a witch meant to one of the subjects in the series, she replied ‘A witch is a woman of knowledge who takes a broom and sweeps to cleanse the world.’

The women of wisdom, healers, enchanters, visionaries and spiritual leaders depicted in Majak’s vibrant photographs often facing discrimination, have taken great risk in being photographed. This is the first time many of them owned their power publicly. Majak’s journey with the Women of Power began when one of them accompanied her in a ritual to say ‘good-bye’ to her wedding dress, and the journey continued from woman to woman as the artist became fascinated with their alternative wisdoms on female power.

Porter Contemporary is the only U.S venue to show Women of Power. The show will then go on tour to: the Central European House of Photography in Slovakia in December 2012, the Ethnographic Museum in Slovenia later this year, the Modern Museum in Wroclaw in 2013 and Bielska Gallery in Poland in 2013, among other venues. A book by the artist that includes interviews with the wise women and their portraits is also on the way.

Listing Information:

What: Women of Power, A Solo Exhibition by Katarzyna Majak Exhibition Dates: May 31 through July 14 Opening Reception with the Artist: May 31, 6:30 – 8:30 PM Press Preview: May 31, 4 – 6 PM Where: Porter / Contemporary, 548 W. 28th Street, 3rd Floor, NYC Gallery Hours: Wed. 11 – 6 PM; Thurs. 11 – 8 PM; Fri. and Sat. 11 – 6 PM

General inquiries: [email protected] Press Inquires: [email protected]

About the Artist: Born and raised in Warsaw, Poland Katarzyna Majak received her PhD in Photography at Poznan Academy of Fine Arts. In 2002 she was an artist-in-residence at ‘Florida – First Contact’ project at Atlantic Center for the Arts in Florida. Majak continued her studies in the US when she was awarded a scholarship by Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Colorado in 2003. She is a Critical Mass (Portland, 2011) finalist, her works were selected and published in ‘The Collector’s Guide to New Art Photography Vol. 2.’ She is a member of editorial board and a regular contributor to ‘Fotografia’ quarterly and had been a photography lecturer since 2003. In 2010 Majak was selected for ‘Photographers‘ Network:2010’, in Siegen, Germany. She has exhibited and curated throughout the U.S. and Poland where she is a member of the Association of Polish Art Photographers. Majak currently resides in Warsaw, Poland.

About Porter Contemporary: Launched in 2006, Porter Contemporary is dedicated to showcasing emerging and established artists from around the world whose work embodies both skill and risk taking. The mission of Porter Contemporary continues to be based on founder Jessica L. Porter’s vision of opening contemporary art collecting to a broader audience. Over the past five years, the gallery has earned a dedicated following of new and established collectors who value art that pushes boundaries. In addition to presenting many distinctive exhibitions throughout the year, Porter Contemporary also provides art consultation services, collection management and artwork installation. Porter Contemporary is located in New York’s Chelsea district at 548 West 28th Street, just steps away from the beautiful High Line Park—like the gallery, a place to experience art and life from a new perspective.