Born in Poland, Smarzak completed a Master of Fine Arts at the College of Fine Arts, Sydney. This is her first time as an Archibald Prize finalist. She was a finalist in the Portia Geach Memorial Award in 2006 and 2008, and the Salon des Refusés in 2000 and 2002. She has had numerous solo and group shows over the years. She also runs art programs for people with disabilities for the Miroma Rudolf Steiner Centre.
1993 -1996 Bachelor Of Fine Arts (Honours) College of Fine Arts
University of New South Wales
1997 – 1999 Master of Fine Arts College of Fine Arts University of New South Wales
2015 Mariola Smarzak – New Works at Kensington Contemporary 1 Sydney
2013 Returning NG Art Gallery Sydney
2010 Cantata NG Art Gallery Sydney
2009 New Works NG Art Gallery Sydney
2007 New Works NG Art Gallery Sydney
2005 New Works Gallery Ten Eleven, Melbourne
2004 Horizons Brian Moore Gallery, Sydney
2003 Recent Paintings Brian Moore Gallery,Sydney
2002 New Works Brian Moore Gallery, Sydney
2001 Summer NG Art Mary Place Gallery, Sydney
2000 Studio Show Artist Studios Rozelle, Sydney
1999 Somwhere Behind Kudos Gallery,Sydney
2015 Tattersall’s Club Landscape Art Prize (Finalist)
2014 Archibald Portrait Prize AGNSW Sydney (Finalist)
2013 International Womens Day Art Prize (Finalist)
2008 Portia Geach Memorial Award S.H.Ervin Gallery, Sydney (Finalist)
2006 Portia Geach Memorial Award SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney (Finalist)
2004 Multi Coloured Australia: The Embassy of the Republic of Poland &
Polish Studies at Monash University, Canberra (Finalist)
2004 The Year in Art S.H Ervin Gallery Sydney (Finalist)
2002 Wynne Prize, Salon des Refuses S.H.Ervin Gallery, Sydney (Finalist)
2002 Landmarks Bathurst Regional Gallery, Bathurst (Finalist)
2000 Wynne Prize, Salon des Refuses S.H.Ervin Gallery, Sydney (Finalist)
1999 Fisher Ghost Art Award, Sydney (Finalist)
1996 Jenny Britt Award College of Fine Arts UNSW, Sydney (Finalist)
2015 Rock Paper Plant One plus 2 Artist Studios, Rozelle
2014 Lost Leichhardt Studio Open trail One plus 2 Artist Studios, Rozelle
2012 Annual Open Weekend Exhibition One plus 2 Artist Studios, Rozelle
2010 Transience One plus 2 Artist Studios, Rozelle
2009 MLC Centre Frederic Barristers Chambers,Sydney
2009 Of Nature NG Art Gallery, Sydney
2009 Summer Exhibition NG Art Gallery, Sydney
2008 Summer Exhibition NG Art Gallery, Sydney
2006 Spring Exhibition One + 2 Artist Studios, Rozelle
2006 Group Of Eight One + 2 Artist Studios, Rozelle
2006 Conversation in colour Stone Gallery, Sydney (Miroma)
2005 Life Works Stone Gallery, Sydney(Miroma)
2004 Fifty x Fifty One + 2 Artist Studios, Rozelle
2003 Open Day Exhibition One + 2 Artist Studios, Rozelle
2003 Brian Moore Memorial Exhibition Brian Moore Gallery, Sydney
2003 Small Wonders Delmar Gallery, Sydney
2001 Group Show Mary Place Gallery, Sydney
2001 ANCA Gallery, Canberra
2001 SCEGS Art Exhibition Nicky Ginsberg
2000 Three Sydney Artists Sylvia White Gallery, Santa Monica
2000 Five Australian Painters Critical Mass Studios Williamsburg New York
1999 One + 2 Artist Studios Group Exhibition, Rozelle
1999 MFA Graduate Exhibition Ivan Dougherty Gallery, Sydney
1999 Wax Lacquer & Oil Exhibition PCL Gallery, Sydney
1998 Sydney Art Sale PCL Gallery, Sydney
1998 Casa Celebrates Xmas Open House Gallery, Sydney
1998 Bloom Open House Gallery, Sydney
1998 Recent Works PCL Gallery, Sydney
1997 Annual Pastel Exhibition Delmar Gallery, Sydney
1997 New Works PCL Gallery, Sydney
1996 Graduate Exhibition College of Fine Arts UNSW
1996 Eight is Enough College of Fine Arts UNSW
1995 Annual Pastel Exhibition Delmar Gallery, Sydney
Private & Corporate in Australia, UK, France, USA, Poland, South Africa, Germany