Where Passion, Power, and Pop Art Collide - Joanna Patejuk aka PopArtQuinn talks about her passion

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There’s a certain kind of woman whose energy fills the room before she even speaks — bold, magnetic, and unapologetically passionate. Joanna Patejuk, known in the art world as PopArtQuinn, is one of them. An artist, visionary, and Creative Director, Joanna embodies the dynamic spirit of Dubai — a city where ambition meets artistry, and tradition dances with modernity.

Through her Pop Art Quinn brand, she fuses color, culture, and emotion into vibrant visual narratives that capture her three greatest passions: horses, art, and camels. From her celebrated The Super Horses Collection — inspired by legendary Dubai World Cup winners — to collaborations with institutions like Metamorphose Gallery, SamaLAin Gallery, Living In Wonderland Gallery, Comic Con, Radisson Red, Rixos, DIFC Art Nights,  and World Art Dubai, Joanna’s creative universe is as diverse as it is daring.

As she prepares for a new book and a personal exhibition marking the 30th anniversary of the Dubai World Cup, Joanna opens up about inspiration, legacy, and the art of living passionately.

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— Joanna, your world seems to live at the intersection of elegance and adrenaline — art, horses, and the spirit of Dubai.
When did you first realize that these passions could coexist — that the racecourse could be your canvas?

— These passions were always part of me. As a child I lived between two worlds — spending long hours riding horses and just as many drawing them. I competed in Eventing for ten years, then built a professional career in racing as a jockey, trainer, and agent across Europe, the USA, and the UAE.

For 35 years the horses carried me — literally and metaphorically — through an extraordinary journey. And throughout it all, I always proclaimed the Art of Riding: that deep, empathetic connection with the horse — riding as one body and soul — combined with a technical, intuitive way of working together.

About eight years ago I finally created space for my art to return, and from that moment it felt natural that the racecourse could also be my canvas.

Sport, elegance, adrenaline, and art were never separate — they’ve always lived together in me, and Dubai became the place where they could finally meet.

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— You often describe your work as a celebration of energy and motion.
How do you capture that fleeting moment of power — a gallop, a glance, a shimmer — and translate it into pop art that feels timeless?

— Every horse is a universe of its own — a fusion of dignity, individuality, noble presence, and a raw dynamic force that you can feel before you even see it. My work is simply the translation of that universe into something that lives forever.

A lifetime in the saddle taught me to catch those micro-moments: the breath before the gallop, the shift of weight, the spark that says, now.

On the racetrack, these moments vanish in a heartbeat. On my canvas, they refuse to disappear.

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— The ‘Super Horses’ Collection became iconic, merging equestrian legacy with vibrant modern art.
What did the Dubai World Cup mean to you personally — and how did it inspire this artistic direction?

— The Dubai World Cup has been a part of my life since the moment I arrived in the UAE. For 15 years I’ve stood on that track, year after year, as part of the racing teams I worked with — watching the world’s greatest horses create moments of pure history.

It’s the closest thing our sport has to the Olympic Games: speed, courage, legacy, and passion all meeting under one sky.

That energy became the foundation of The Super Horses Collection.

I wanted to merge the global tradition of horse racing with a modern, heroic visual language — to show these champions not just as athletes, but as icons. Warriors. Royalty. Pop Art version of real-life Superheroes.

That’s why in my art you see armor, crowns, lightning, bold contrasts, and textures that feel almost cinematic. It’s my way of honouring their power and individuality, their noble presence and dynamic spirit.

This collection grew from the idea that every Dubai World Cup winner is more than a horse — each one is a symbol, a legacy, a force.

The DWC didn’t just inspire my artistic direction — it gave it a heartbeat.

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— Your next chapter sounds fascinating — a book and a personal exhibition leading up to the 30th anniversary of the Dubai World Cup.
Could you tell us what stories or emotions you hope to reveal through this new body of work? What message do you want your audience to feel?

— I want to invite people into the world that shaped me — a world where real racing legends meet imagination, and where horses become heroes, teachers, and guardians of our stories. Golden Hooves of Meydan – „ Maktoob - The Day The  Super Horses Spoke” celebrates that magic, inspiring both adults and children through real champions brought to life with fantasy and emotion.

Horses have been with me through everything — in joy and sadness, victories and defeats. They were always my greatest support, my teachers of courage and humility, and the deepest value in my life. This journey is my Maktoob, a destiny that began long ago with my beloved horse, Szejk, who opened the first door to this path.

Through this exhibition and the book, I want people to feel that the world of racing is not only an elite sport, but a place full of heart, emotion, and incredible stories — accessible to anyone who truly loves horses.

Not just for their speed or beauty, but for the way they inspire us and how profoundly they can change a life.

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My message is simple:

Believe in the magic of their stories, feel the legacy of the Dubai World Cup, and let these Super Horses remind you that greatness often begins with a single spark.

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— Dubai is a city of contrasts — futuristic yet deeply rooted in heritage.
How does this duality shape your creative process? Do you see yourself as a bridge between tradition and modern visual storytelling?‍

— I like to say that I’m made of three countries. Poland gave me discipline and backbone.

Ukraine gave me my Cossack fire. And the UAE — especially Dubai — gave me the freedom to dream on a scale I never imagined. These three identities live in me at the same time, and that duality is exactly what shapes my art.

I’m deeply rooted in heritage. I know where I come from, I honour my traditions, and I carry the values of my family like armour. But I’m equally obsessed with progress — with innovation, creativity, technology, and the incredible energy of the world we live in today. Dubai embodies that contrast perfectly: futuristic, unstoppable, yet fiercely loyal to its roots.

That’s why I resonate with this city so strongly. It feels like me.

My camel-racing journey also became an unexpected and powerful part of that connection. Riding as a female European jockey in one of the most traditional Emirati sports grounded me deeply in local heritage. It taught me respect, humility, and unity beyond culture or nationality. It showed me that embracing a new tradition can transform you — and that heritage becomes even more meaningful when you live it, not just observe it.

In my creative work, I naturally become the bridge between past and future. Heritage keeps me grounded; vision pulls me forward. My horses are the language that connects it all — timeless symbols that rise above culture, religion, and social status. Their stories speak to everyone.

What I want to leave behind is something bigger than myself — a legacy that merges tradition with modern storytelling, passion with precision, reality with imagination. Something that says: no matter where you come from, you belong in this story.

And the horses — and now also the camels — carry that message better than any words ever could.

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— You’ve collaborated with luxury brands, art institutions, and pop culture events like Comic Con and DIFC Art Nights.
What do these diverse partnerships teach you about how art connects with different audiences today?

— These partnerships taught me one powerful truth: art speaks many languages — but emotion is the universal one.

Working with luxury brands, art institutions, and pop-culture events like Comic Con or DIFC Art Nights showed me how differently people connect with art depending on where they encounter it. A collector sees craftsmanship and legacy. A child sees a hero. A fan sees a character. A luxury audience sees storytelling and identity.

But all of them react when something feels alive, authentic, and charged with emotion.

My Super Horses proved this. In a gallery, they are regal and iconic. At Comic Con, they become Superheroes. At racing events, they feel like family, like history. With luxury brands, they transform into symbols of power, heritage, and excellence.

These collaborations taught me to embrace diversity — not by changing who I am, but by allowing the work to meet people where they are. The world today is fluid, fast, and full of different cultures and perspectives. To connect, you need art that has a strong soul but a flexible voice.  And I love that challenge.

It keeps me growing, expanding, and constantly rediscovering what art can be — a bridge between worlds that would never meet otherwise.

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—Your piece Warrior Woman made waves in the fashion world when it was featured by Medicine in Poland.
How do you see the relationship between fashion and fine art evolving, especially in the Middle East?

— Warrior Woman became surprisingly universal. Even now, when I travel back to Poland and see people wearing the T-shirt or carrying the bag, it reminds me how powerful the connection between fashion and art can be. It takes the artwork out of the gallery and brings it into everyday life — which, in many ways, is exactly what pop art was always meant to do.

The evolution of art and fashion is incredibly dynamic, especially in the Middle East. Here, creativity is bold, fast, expressive, and deeply connected to identity. Fashion and fine art are no longer separate worlds — they inspire each other, merge, and create new cultural languages. And it’s a beautiful way to reach people who love art but want to experience it in a more personal, wearable form.

For me, this experience opened a new door. It showed me how naturally my work can live across different mediums — canvas, fashion, lifestyle. And it made me genuinely excited about exploring this direction further and collaborating with more cool brands that share the same vision: to make art part of everyday life, accessible, emotional, and memorable.

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— As a woman leading creative ventures in Dubai’s art scene, what does empowerment mean to you today — both personally and artistically?

— Empowerment means having the courage to create your own path — even when no one has walked it before. As a woman in Dubai’s art scene, I’ve had to build my brand from the ground up, trust my vision, and also learn to trust others along the way. Real strength includes allowing people to support you, collaborate with you, and grow with you.

But true empowerment isn’t only about standing strong — it’s about lifting others as you rise. Supporting creatives, sharing opportunities, and showing that leadership can be powerful, kind, and inclusive.

Artistically, empowerment means freedom: the freedom to blend worlds — racing, pop culture, heritage, futurism — and speak with a voice that is bold, emotional, and unapologetically mine.  Dubai makes that possible.

Here, a woman can be a warrior, a creator, a dreamer — and part of a community that rises together.

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—Your art carries a distinct emotional signature — bold, yet intimate.
When you stand in front of a blank canvas, what’s the first emotion you reach for?

— The first emotion I reach for is curiosity — that spark of what’s next?

Each new piece feels like the beginning of an artistic and personal journey. I always think in terms of collections, worlds, and meaning: What emotion do I want to share? What value will this artwork carry? What story, lesson, or inspiration might someone take from it?

Every creation becomes a process of self-discovery — revealing something new about my instincts, my evolution, and the way I see the world. That inner exploration shapes the colours, the rhythm, and the energy I bring into the work.

The start of a new artwork is the thrill of my inner unveiling — the feeling that something meaningful is about to be born, both on the canvas and within myself.

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— And finally — if you could define your legacy in one sentence, on the eve of the Dubai World Cup’s 30th anniversary — what would it be?
What do you hope people will remember about PopArtQuinn and the world you’ve created?

— I hope PopArtQuinn lives on as a universe where art, racing, and dreams collide — and where everyone who enters feels inspired to believe in their own Maktoob.

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