Biography
Ivona
A. Szymczak was born in Poland where she grew up for twelve years
before moving to the United States. Settling in the Bay Area,
she learned English quickly through emersion and began to excel
in her schoolwork. Her artistic abilities were recognized by teachers
early on.
Traveling only a few miles from home, she attended UC Berkeley
where she studied dance and fine arts, focusing on painting and
figure drawing. After graduating with a major in Fine Arts from UC Berkeley in
1996, Ivona moved to San Jose, earned a teaching credential, and
became a Kindergarten teacher.
Through the years she has never wavered in her studies of ballet
and modern dance. The sense of movement is captured in her paintings,
which are currently fragmented images of thoughts, inspirations
or experiences that have occurred in her life. It could be an
image or a feeling...with a twist.
Today she lives with her husband in Willow Glen and enjoys camping,
hiking, and relaxing when she is not working on her latest painting.
