A Hundred Nightly Spectres. Ghouls, Ghosts and Demons in Japanese and Western Art is currently on view at the Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology in Kraków. The exhibition explores the phenomenon of yōkai—Japanese demons and spirits—by placing them alongside Slavic beliefs and Western concepts, revealing shared fears that transcend cultural boundaries.
Divided into four thematic sections, the exhibition features over 70 Japanese woodblock prints from the Feliks Jasieński collection, complemented by works of Polish and Western art from the 18th to the 21st century. Featured artists include Francisco Goya, Odilon Redon, Stanisław Wyspiański, Zofia Stryjeńska, and contemporary Polish artists such as Natalia Buchta Stochel, Krzysztof Gil, and Jakub Julian Ziółkowski.
A notable highlight is a sketchbook page by Andrzej Wróblewski showing a lantern above the grave of Oiwa—an iconic figure from Japanese folklore. Her tale of betrayal, tragic death, and return as a vengeful ghost is one of Japan’s most famous yūrei legends, embodying deeply rooted fears and a desire for justice.
Exhibition on view from June 1 to August 31, 2025 Curator: Dr hab. Anna Król, prof. ASP Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology ul. Marii Konopnickiej 26, Kraków https://manggha.pl/wystawa/sto-nocnych-zjaw
The exhibition Don’t Ask About Poland, presented at the Centre of Contemporary Art “Znaki Czasu” in Toruń, offers a comprehensive overview of Polish art from the 20th and 21st centuries, based on the collection of Katarzyna and Wojciech Szafrański. The exhibition forms a multilayered reflection on history, national identity, and the social experience of recent decades, conveyed through the works of artists with strong and often ambiguous voices.
Among the works on display are pieces by key figures of 20th-century Polish art, including Henryk Stażewski, Andrzej Wróblewski, Tadeusz Kantor, Wojciech Fangor, Maria Jarema, and Jadwiga Maziarska. Their works are presented alongside expressive pieces from the 1980s by artists such as Ryszard Grzyb, Edward Dwurnik, and Jarosław Modzelewski, as well as iconic examples of 1990s critical art by Zbigniew Libera, Joanna Rajkowska, and Artur Żmijewski. The voice of the youngest generation of female artists is represented by Karolina Jabłońska, Martyna Czech, Ewa Juszkiewicz, and Agata Kus.
courtesy of the Centre of Contemporary Art “Znaki Czasu” in Toruń, photo: Wojciech Szabelski
The exhibition’s curator, Marta Smolińska, brings together different generations and artistic strategies into a moving narrative about Poland – as a space of tensions, memory, and resistance.
Exhibition on view from 21 February to 25 May 2025 Curator: Marta Smolińska Centre of Contemporary Art “Znaki Czasu” in Toruń Wały gen. Sikorskiego 13, Toruń https://csw.torun.pl
Andrzej Wróblewski.I, One Among Manyis the fourth exhibition devoted to the work of Andrzej Wróblewski organised by the Starak Family Foundation. The exhibition currently on show at Spectra Art Space is a continuation of the exhibition Andrzej Wróblewski (1927-1957).In the First Personheld as part of the Accompanying Events of the 60th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia in 2024. The exhibition received great international acclaim and The Artnewspaper considered it one of the most interesting accompanying events.
The exhibition, presented at Spectra Art Space in Warsaw, shows Wróblewski’s work in the context of the poetry of Tadeusz Różewicz, a private friend of the artist. The shared sensitivity of both artists, marked by wartime experiences and the struggle with the hardships of the first post-war years, has been juxtaposed by curator Ania Muszyńska, creating a very interesting dialogue between image and word.
In the exhibition space we can also familiarise ourselves with a fragment of a poem by Andrzej Wróblewski. Such a comparison of Wróblewski’s paintings with Różewicz’s poetry was made in 1957 by Konrad Nałęcki in his short film Opening and Closing Eyes.
The exhibition presents paintings exclusively from the collection of Anna and Jerzy Starak, which is the largest collection of the artist’s works, including those that have not been shown in Venice.
A new Polish Art Gallery has opened at the National Museum in Poznań, marking a significant event for research on Andrzej Wróblewski’s work. For the first time in 76 years, The Emotional Content of Revolution is being presented in its entirety. The painting was previously displayed in full only once, at the Exhibition of Modern Art in the vestibule of the Palace of Art in Kraków, organized in late 1948 and early 1949. Wróblewski debuted at this exhibition as the youngest participant, showcasing works such as Earth, A Painting About the Horrors of War (Fish Without Heads), and The Sun and Other Stars.
By June 1949, Wróblewski had cut the canvas in half, creating Partisans (painted between June 13–19) on one half, and Station 45 / Station in the Recovered Territories (painted between September 10–15) on the other. The latter was displayed a few months later at the exhibition of the Self-Education Team during the Inter-School Exhibition of State Higher Art Schools in Poznań. In 1982, Station 45 / Station in the Recovered Territories was acquired for the collection of the National Museum in Poznań.
Meanwhile, Partisans has been in the National Museum in Poznań for several years as a deposit from the Wielkopolska Society for the Promotion of Fine Arts. At the owner’s request, and in cooperation with the Andrzej Wróblewski Foundation, the painting underwent conservation, including the removal of black paint that had covered the reverse. The artwork also received a new frame, identical to that of Station 45 / Station in the Recovered Territories, allowing for double-sided display. Currently, the figurative compositions are exhibited according to the artist’s intention, resulting in the separation of The Emotional Content of Revolution. It is worth noting that the museum plans to present the painting in its 1948 state in the coming years, enabling viewers to appreciate the entire composition.
These and other aspects of Andrzej Wróblewski’s double-sided canvases are discussed in Magdalena Ziółkowska’s essay, The Pictures Were Seen by Countless Staring Eyes. On the First Posthumous Exhibition of Andrzej Wróblewski in Three Parts, published in 2024 by the Andrzej Wróblewski Foundation and Hatje Cantz Verlag in the book Andrzej Wróblewski. Exhibiting.
The Polish Art Gallery displays both familiar pieces from the National Museum’s permanent exhibitions and deposits. These include works by prominent Polish artists such as Jacek Malczewski, Władysław Podkowiński, Stanisław Wyspiański, Maria Jarema, Tadeusz Kantor, and Jerzy Nowosielski.
The curators of the exhibition are Maria Gołąb, Agnieszka Skalska, Anna Borowiec, Arkadiusz Krawczyk, and Zuzanna Wagner, with the arrangement designed by Raman Tratsiuk.
The exhibition Change to come presents a unique selection of works by Polish artists that address social, political, and artistic changes. Among the pieces are works by Andrzej Wróblewski, which, in conjunction with creations by young contemporary artists, emphasize the role of artists as witnesses and creators of social transformation. The juxtaposition of historical works from the mid-20th century with contemporary pieces highlights the dialogue between generations and the ongoing commitment of Polish artists to current social issues.
The idea for the exhibition emerged in 2023 at the invitation of Marion Ackermann, Director General of Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden. The project was developed by Hanna Wróblewska in collaboration with curator Magdalena Komornicka.
Exhibition open from November 7, 2024 to March 16, 2025 Curator: Magdalena Komornicka Kunsthalle im Lipsiusbau – Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Dresden Georg-Treu-Platz 1, Dresden https://lipsiusbau.skd.museum/en/exhibitions/change-to-come/
The exhibition New Generation and Classics from Wojciech Fibak’s Collection showcases over 200 works by Polish artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. It features pieces by renowned figures such as Andrzej Wróblewski, Magdalena Abakanowicz, and Wojciech Fangor, alongside works from younger artists, including Ewa Juszkiewicz, Karolina Jabłońska, and Agata Kus. The exhibition highlights the dialogue between generations, emphasizing both differences and unexpected connections in their art.
The exhibition is curated by Krzysztof Stanisławski and includes a catalog and educational program.
On 21 June 2024, in the courtyard of the historic Brukenthal National Museum in Sibiu, the opening ceremony of the exhibition Tatras. Wróblewski, Karłowicz, Wyczółkowski. The exhibition, which was displayed last year at the Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology in Krakow, made a new appearance at the Museum in Sibiu, this time inaugurating the first ever Poland-Romania Cultural Season 2024-2025, which aims to develop and strengthen cultural cooperation between the two countries.
WThe event was opened by the anthems of Poland and Romania played by the orchestra. The first speech was given by Alexandru Chituță, director of the Brukenthal National Museum – the institution hosting the exhibition.
The opening of the exhibition Tatras. Wróblewski, Karłowicz, Wyczółkowski on 21 June 2024. Speech by the Minister Hanna Wróblewska.
This was followed by a speech by Hanna Wróblewska, Minister of Culture and National Heritage in Poland, who pointed out the double significance of the event. She emphasised the wide and varied nature of the events organised as part of the Season – music, theatre, exhibitions, film and literature, and the fact that they will take place not only in the capitals but many Polish and Romanian cities. “I hope that this programme will contribute to the strengthening of mutual relations and the friendship that for a long time has united our countries,” the Minister said, “However, it is important that any strategic partnership of this kind is filled with content. It seems to me that this season gives us such hope. We have managed to involve the most important cultural institutions in both countries, so we hope that this cooperation will not end with the Season but will continue.”
Further speeches were given by Raluci Turcan, Minister of Culture and National Heritage in Romania, and Liviu Jijckman, President of the Romanian Cultural Institute. Olga Wysocka, director of the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, emphasised the role of art in building intercultural ties: “I believe that art is the finest bridge between our cultures. That is why during the Cultural Season we will present to you the most outstanding works of Polish artists of the 20th and 21st centuries”. In the end, the floor was taken by the co-founders of the Andrzej Wróblewski Foundation and the curators Wojciech Grzybała and Magdalena Ziółkowska, who explained the idea of the exhibition to the guests. The entire event was translated into Romanian, Polish and English.
After the official part, the guests made their way to the exhibition space, where a curator’s guided tour took place. The exhibition, presenting the works of three artists who had a major impact on Polish culture and art in the 19th and 20th centuries: Andrzej Wróblewski, Mieczysław Karłowicz and Leon Wyczółkowski, will run until September 1, 2024. It is curated by Professor Anna Król, Dr Magdalena Ziółkowska and Wojciech Grzybała. The event has been organised by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, the Andrzej Wróblewski Foundation, the Brukenthal National Museum and the Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology in Krakow, in collaboration with the Romanian Ministry of Culture and the Polish Institute in Bucharest.
In the photo: Wojciech Grzybała, Magdalena Ziółkowska and Anna Król and Raluca Turcan.In the photo: Alexandru Chituță, Magdalena Ziółkowska, Wojciech Grzybała, Hanna Wróblewska, Raluca Turcan, Anna Król, Liviu Jijckman, Olga Wysocka, Paweł Soloch, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in Romania.Curatorial tour of the exhibition Tatry. Wróblewski, Karłowicz, Wyczółkowski. In the photo: Anna Król, Hanna Wróblewska and Wojciech Grzybała.
On June 21, 2024, the Brukenthal National Museum in Sibiu (Romania) will hold the opening of the exhibition entitled The Tatras. Wróblewski, Karłowicz, Wyczółkowski. The exhibition, which was hosted last year at the Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology in Krakow, will make a new appearance at the museum in Sibiu. At the same time, its inauguration will mark the launch of the first ever Poland-Romania Cultural Season 2024-2025, which aims to develop and strengthen cultural cooperation between the two countries.
Among the works on display are a series of inks by Andrzej Wróblewski with views of the Tatra Mountains (from 1952-53) and the artist’s geometric abstractions from 1948, prints of mountain landscapes by Mieczysław Karłowicz, and prints by Leon Wyczółkowski inspired by Japanese aesthetics, including unique trial prints from his 1906 portfolio of Eight Aquatints. The works come from nine private collections, the National Museum in Kraków and the Dr Tytus Chałubiński Tatra Museum in Zakopane. Mieczysław Karłowicz’s photographs will be on display courtesy of the PTTK Central Centre for Mountain Tourism in Krakow.
The exhibition is organised by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, the Andrzej Wróblewski Foundation, the Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology in Krakow, in cooperation with the Brukenthal National Museum, the Romanian Ministry of Culture and the Polish Institute in Bucharest.
Exhibition open from June 22 to September 1, 2024 Curators: Anna Król, Magdalena Ziółkowska, Wojciech Grzybała Brukenthal National Museum Piata Mare 4-5 550163 Sibiu www.brukenthalmuseum.ro
The Colours of Life exhibition is a presentation of seventy works by nine Polish painters of the 20th and 21st centuries. Among the artists whose works are on display are Jan Lebenstein, Andrzej Wróblewski, Franciszek Starowieyski, Henryk Cześnik, Kiejstut Bereźnicki, Edward Dwurnik, Tadeusz Pfeiffer, Ewa Skaper and Zbigniew Urbalewicz. All the works come from the art collection of Maria and Marek Pilecki, who have been collecting paintings, prints, sculptures and drawings for the past 40 years.
photo: Mateusz Wolski | KCK
According to the deputy director of the Kielce Cultural Centre, Artur Wijata, the exhibition offers a unique opportunity to discover the common denominator of the works of outstanding artists and to take a deeper dive into the world of Polish contemporary art. The exhibition is curated by Zbigniew Buski.
On 20 April 2024, the opening of the exhibition Andrzej Wróblewski. (1927–1957). In the First Person will take place during the Venice International Art Biennale as part of the official Collateral Events. This exhibition has been organised by the Starak Family Foundation, whose founders, Anna and Jerzy Starak, own the largest private collection of the artist’s works.
The exhibition ‘In the First Person’ tells the story of art in times of captivity, of being on the leash and hobbled by orders. It’s a dialogue with contemporaries on the price and consequences of one’s choices. It’s a young artist’s postmortem cry forcourage, intransigence and social responsibility, Ania Muszyńska, curator of the exhibition, emphasises.
The exhibition will feature more than 70 works by the artist, mainly from the collection of Anna and Jerzy Starak and the collections of the national museums in Warsaw, Lublin and Wrocław, as well as other private collections.
Exhibition open from April 20 to November 24, 2024. Procuratie Vecchie Curator: Ania Muszyńska; cruatorial team: Magda Marczak-Cerońska, Kama Kieremkampt Procuratie Vecchie St Mark’s Square, San Marco 139-153/A, Venice https://starakfoundation.org/en/spectra/news/c/1/36,0
