In late 2019, Kasia Hebda arrived in Queenstown for what was meant to be a six-month stay. Five years later, the multidisciplinary artist and conservator is proud to call Queenstown home, having built a solid creative career in the district. 

Kasia’s creative practice spans fine art, design, teaching, restoration, and large-scale mural work. As of March 2025, she works from her dedicated art space in the School House Studios at Country Lane, Kasia Hebda Studio.

With a Master’s degree in Art Conservation from the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków, Poland, and as the only professional art conservator currently based in Queenstown, she also takes on restorative commissions in the conservation field.

Kasia’s journey to New Zealand was born of curiosity and change. Originally trained in fine art painting and conservation, she gained most of her experience in European heritage buildings, restoring wall paintings. This was a complex, highly technical, team-based field—but the intensity of the work eventually led to burnout. A career pivot saw her move into a project management role at a design studio, before a short trip to Queenstown unexpectedly turned into something more. Arriving just before the COVID pandemic hit, Kasia and her husband soon found themselves happily ‘stuck’.

“I was creatively blocked when I arrived, but the natural beauty and slower pace of life helped me reconnect with painting. I picked up a set of watercolours and haven’t stopped since,” she shares.

Her studio now balances all sides of her practice: art-making, teaching, commercial design, and restoration. She regularly runs life drawing classes, botanical watercolour workshops, and continues to take on mural commissions - her most notable to date being a 45m2 floor mural for Remarkables Sweet Shop, which she’s soon expanding onto the walls.

Art has always been a part of Kasia’s life. She grew up in Zakopane, a Polish mountain town steeped in artistic heritage. Her great-great uncle, Wojciech Brzega, was part of shaping the region’s distinctive architecture and style. Surrounded by his sculptures and paintings, she was drawn into the creative fold from a young age. “I was always making something. Painting, singing, writing, acting. I even got in trouble for drawing on furniture and walls at home,” she laughs.

A defining moment came at the age of 13 when she began her studies at the Antoni Kenar School of Fine Arts, a prestigious institution with over 150 years of tradition. From there, her love for Leonardo da Vinci and the old masters shaped her decision to specialise in art conservation, a career that allowed her to marry her love of creativity with science and history.

But despite her impressive academic and professional background, Kasia’s approach today is grounded in intuition and flow. “I don’t wait for inspiration. I let it find me while I’m working,” she explains. “My sketchbook is my second brain.” Sketchbooks and mind maps are key parts of her creative process, with ideas often emerging during quiet moments of movement: walking, hiking, or even washing dishes. 

She’s also honest about the challenges. Burnout. The loneliness of creative work. The juggle of running a one-woman business. “Navigating this means being gentle with myself and learning to work with my natural rhythms. The creative path is rarely linear. The detours have shaped me just as much as the milestones.”

Connection and community have become cornerstones in her journey. As an active member of the Queenstown Arts Society and Wakatipu Potters Group, Kasia deeply values the friendships and creative exchange these groups foster. “Find your people,” she advises. “Making art can be lonely. Having others who share your passion makes all the difference.”

Looking ahead, she’s excited about expanding her course offerings, continuing with mural projects, and growing her profile as a local art conservator - an under-the-radar service she’s keen to see more widely recognised. “Many locals don’t know there’s someone in Queenstown who can restore damaged or aged artworks. I hope to expand that side of my practice and make it more visible.”

If funding were no obstacle, she dreams of bringing more large-scale public art into Queenstown’s urban spaces. “We’re surrounded by incredible landscapes, but I think we’re still missing vibrant, meaningful art in our built environment.” She envisions designing a public building, like a gallery, theatre or museum, where art is integrated with architecture, just as it is in the heritage spaces she once worked on in Europe.

Another aspiration? Helping establish a Public Art Gallery in Queenstown. “With so many creatives in the district, I believe Queenstown should have its own art collection. Art isn’t just decoration, it’s a vital, living part of everyday life.”

To the next generation of creatives, her advice is heartfelt and real. “Explore everything until you find what makes you lose track of time. Focus on practice, not perfection. And share your work, but don’t let opinions define your path. Trust your inner voice.”

As she continues to grow her creative business, Kasia remains motivated by the everyday magic of making and teaching. “Art shapes our lives,” she reflects. “It sparks our imagination, comforts us, and helps us dream big. I feel incredibly grateful to be part of the creative community in Queenstown and to contribute to a culture where creativity is embraced, encouraged, and shared.”

You can find Kasia at her studio at School House Studios, Country Lane, or follow her journey via @kasia.hebda.studio on Instagram. Her next round of workshops and commissions is already underway, so make sure to keep an eye out for what’s next.