Baba Yaga

In "Baba Yaga," artist Michelle Krasowski explores a Polish superstition that warns against sweeping at night, out of fear that it will sweep away good luck. In Polish culture, nighttime is seen as a time for rest, renewal, and reflection, not for disrupting the home’s energy.

Krasowski reimagines this belief through the figure of Baba Yaga, a powerful character from Slavic folklore. In the print, an older woman is shown sweeping under the influence of an unseen moon, whose energy fills the room with tension and chaos. Although the moon remains hidden behind a curtain, its presence is deeply felt, echoing traditional views of the moon as a force that stirs emotion and unpredictability in people and nature.

Symbols of superstition are layered throughout the scene: a black cat, a personal motif that appears in much of Krasowski’s work, and a horseshoe nailed above the doorway, offering protection. Yet, beyond the open door, a shadowy figure approaches, its intentions left deliberately unclear, allowing the viewer to wonder whether it brings fortune or misfortune.

Through "Baba Yaga," Michelle Krasowski captures the mysterious energy of nighttime, where superstition, folklore, and imagination merge. The piece invites viewers to reflect on how unseen cultural and cosmic forces continue to influence how we experience the world, especially when day turns to night.