At the moment I am in Warsaw discovering the Polish contemporary art scene. I must say, it is very inspiring.

I have met a lot of fascinating people and in this post I will introduce them to you.

I started with one of Poland’s most notable institutions for contemporary art: Zachęta National Gallery of Art.

The gallery is presenting the first-ever survey exhibition of the work of Piotr Uklański in Poland.

From the press text: Uklański is considered one of Poland’s most accomplished living artists.
The exhibition premieres new works by Uklański – including a monumental textile installation Untitled (Open Wide), 2012, a photographic series entitled Pornalikes, 2002-12, and Untitled (Polska Über Alles), 2012, a new installation that combines iconic elements of his work, such as Dance Floor and The Nazis.

Then I went to Raster Gallery, where I met artist Zbigniew Libera and the gallerists Lukasz Gorczyca and Michal Kaczynski.

Wine with the image of Libera’s work on the label.

Latest album release by Raster Gallery, the first extensive publication on pre-war photography of modernist architecture in Poland

Together with Libera we went to Rialto Hotel, which is located next to Raster Gallery.

From the Conde Nast Traveler:  The Polish capital’s first chic, small hotel, the Rialto has stunning and scrupulously re-created Art Deco decor, right down to the faux-Bakelite light switches — to say nothing of the elaborate oak-and-maple parquet floors, handsome Deco light fixtures, and 1920s Viennese-style furniture.

Together with Michal Kaczynski from Raster Gallery we made a studio visit with Matecki – the new bad boy of Polish art.

The entrance hall in the building of Matecki’s studio is blessed.

Matecki’s collages are my favorites.

Then we visited the studio of Zbigniew Rogalski and saw a series of his new work. Polish painters are obsessed with holes.

Rogalski’s studio is very tidy.

His paintings are very calm.

My favorite work – the map of the world after the apocalyptic flood

I love seeing the new building in progress – the city is like a woman in the act of “putting herself together”.

Michal brought me to a secret cafe and market named Panstwomiasto. I admired the young cheerful hipsters of Warsaw.

Then I had lunch with guys from Billy Gallery – Pawel and Tymek.

After lunch we visited Tymek’s show at Zamek Ujazdowski – The Centre for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle.

Later I met David Radziszewski, who recently moved to Warsaw from Poznań, and he showed me his new gallery.

That’s not all there is to say about the contemporary art in Poland – stay tuned to our blog and more will be revealed.