The Unfiltered Lens: Magdalena Wosinska on Skateboards, Metal, and Her Mother's Legacy
Interview: Leila Antakly
Magdalena Wosinska doesn’t just take photographs; she immerses herself in the moment, camera on shoulder, capturing the raw, spontaneous energy of life as it happens. A visual artist in the truest sense, her work is an intimate document of human connection in all its complex forms. From her early days documenting the nascent California skate and punk scenes to her powerful client work for Harley-Davidson and Vogue, her lens has always been drawn to authenticity.
Born in Poland and immigrating to the U.S. in 1991, Wosinska’s artistic identity was forged in the subcultures of the 90s. “I grew up skateboarding... that is where I got my start in photography at the age of 14,” she shares. This led to a pivotal move to California at 19 to pursue photography and a parallel life as the guitarist in a metal band, Green and Wood, for eight years. “I got a lot of inspiration from touring and the music scene,” she notes.
But the most profound shift in her storytelling came from a deeply personal place: her mother. “In my 30’s my mom became my main subject of photography, my muse,” Wosinska reveals. “She has really shifted the focus on where my story telling has gone.” Though her mother passed away ten months ago, her presence is a daily inspiration, fueling Wosinska’s current focus on a dedicated book and film about her life.
Inspiration: A Mother's Resilience
When asked for her greatest influence, Wosinska’s answer is immediate and heartfelt: “My mother and her resilience in life.” This isn't a abstract concept; it’s the driving force behind her most significant personal work, marking a mature and powerful new chapter in her artistic journey.
Wosinska’s approach to creating is as organic as her subjects. “Each process, each shoot is different,” she explains. This flexibility is key, varying significantly between commercial assignments and personal projects. For her own work, she is a meticulous curator: “I really sit with and almost collect images over time before I release them if I think they are worthy in that moment.” This patience allows a narrative to develop naturally, far from the pressures of trends and algorithms.
On technology, she has a balanced view. While acknowledging the gallery-like utility of Instagram for showing her “growth and journey,” she remains refreshingly detached from the mechanics of the traditional art world, stating, “I’m an infant when it comes to the art world and I know nothing about it. Maybe that’s a good thing.” This outsider status has perhaps been her greatest strength, allowing her to maintain a fiercely independent and authentic vision.
Wellbeing as a Creative Practice
For an artist who has spent a lifetime chasing energy, Wosinska’s approach to wellbeing is about turning inward. She has recently begun “to learn how to analyze my dreams and am taking a class in self hypnosis. It really allows me to be still and present in the moment.”
This mindful practice complements an active life spent “surfing, hiking with my dogs, and having a sauna before bed.” For her, wellbeing is the essential foundation that fuels the creative drive, a blend of mental clarity and physical vitality.
With two new books and a film in development, Magdalena Wosinska continues to evolve, proving that the most powerful stories are often found not in chasing trends, but in documenting the raw, resilient, and real connections that define a life.
website magdalenawosinska.com
