Izabela Chełkowska studied painting at the Higher School of Fine Arts in Poznań as well as interior and exhibition design at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. She has created costume and stage designs for the theatre, opera, film, TV productions, concerts, outdoor events, exhibitions, fairs, and official government ceremonies.
In the course of her successful career she has worked for the Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera, the Warsaw Philharmonic, the Polish culture ministry, the Presidential Palace, the Museum of Literature (Warsaw), the Royal Castle in Warsaw, and many more. Since 1997 she has been the chief designer of the Film Festival in Międzyzdroje, Poland. She has collaborated with the Warsaw Zoological Garden for 24 years.
Izabela Chełkowska has worked with such stage directors as Laco Adamik, Henryk Bielski, Jacek Bromski, Maciej Dejczer, Waldemar Dziki, Mikołaj Grabowski, Jerzy Gruza, Janusz Kijowski, Stanisław Różewicz, Jerzy Satanowski, Andrzej Strzelecki, Magda Umer, Maciej Wojtyszko, Jan Wołek, and Krzysztof Zanussi.
She is a recipient of numerous awards, including a lifetime achievement award of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage.
