Craft Days

In December of last year, Polish basket weaving was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This event became the impetus for the creation of Craft Days — a new project by the Visteria Foundation dedicated to contemporary craftsmanship, applied arts, and creators from Central and Eastern Europe.

At the heart of the first edition is an exhibition offering an original interpretation of weaving — understood both literally and symbolically. Alongside works directly referencing traditional wicker and straw weaving, visitors will encounter objects that evoke the idea of interlacing through structure, organic forms, and materiality.

The interiors of Villa Gawrońskich will be transformed into a multidimensional scenography inspired by the Polish landscape. Textiles, ceramics, glass, furniture, and installations will form a surreal labyrinth in which the boundaries between art and design remain fluid.

The exhibition will feature both historical works by Władysław Wołkowski and Paweł Grunert, as well as pieces by contemporary artists and designers, including objects created specifically for the project. An important part of the exhibition also includes works by artists associated with the Visteria Foundation Portfolio Review.

Craft Days is also a story about time, attentiveness, and a relationship with material. Basket weaving is presented here as a practice that connects tradition with modernity, and local identity with the global language of contemporary design.

The programme will also include lectures, talks, curator-led tours, and workshops organised in collaboration with the Serfenta Association.

Artists featured in the exhibition

Magdalena Abakanowicz (private collection), Agnieszka Bar, Maria Bąk, Jan Bogusławski, Maria Boy, Karolina Ciecholewska, Martyna Golik, Paweł Grunert (courtesy of Objekt Gallery), Sheila Hicks (kolekcja prywatna), Monika Kędziora (ACEPHALA), Zofia Kusch, Xenia Kwiatkowska, Weronika Krygicz i Klaudia Piwowarska (REMIOSŁO), Anna Litvinovich (Dyka Ceramics), Alina Maslenko i Oleksandr Maslenko (Pleto Studio), Agnieszka Mazur, Karolina Merska (Folka), Agnieszka Owsiany, Beata Palikot-Borowska, Adam Pliszko, Oleksandra Rudenko i Yuriy Vovnyanko (RUDA Studio, courtesy of maybel), Ala Savasevich, Zuzanna Spaltabaka i Igor Jansen (Jansen Spaltabaka), Aleksandra Szewczul (Vintola Studio), Monika Szyca-Thomas (The Good Living & Co), Jakub Święcicki, Angelika Tamkun, Frances van Hasselt, Magdalena Wierzbicka, Zuzanna Wójcik, Władysław Wołkowski (courtesy of Władysław Wołkowski Museum), Justyna Żak (courtesy of Craftica Gallery)

Schedule

Wednesday, May 20

2:00 PM–7:00 PM – Exhibition open to visitors

Thursday, May 21

11:00 AM–7:00 PM – Exhibition open to visitors

5:30 PM – Meeting with artist Frances van Hasselt, moderated by Zuzanna Krzątała

Friday, May 22

11:00 AM–7:00 PM – Exhibition open to visitors

12:00 PM – Guided tour by Eleonora Bojanowska

5:30 PM – Conversation with Łucja Cieślar and Paulina Adamska, moderated by Basia Czyżewska

Saturday, May 23

11:00 AM–7:00 PM – Exhibition open to visitors

1:00 PM–4:00 PM – Basketry workshops with Stowarzyszenie Serfenta (registration required)

2:30 PM – Lecture by Kamila Wagner on basketry in fashion

4:00 PM – Conversation about Władysław Wołkowski with Paweł Grabarczyk from the Muzeum Twórczości Władysława Wołkowskiego w Olkuszu, moderated by Hanna Rydlewska

5:30 PM – Lecture by Dr. Anna Feliks on the history of Polish basketry

Sunday, May 24

11:00 AM–7:00 PM – Exhibition open to visitors

1:00 PM–4:00 PM – Basketry workshops with Stowarzyszenie Serfenta

2:30 PM – Lecture by Marta Kowalewska on the work of Sheila Hicks

4:00 PM – Lecture by Dr. Krystyna Łuczak-Surówka on the work of Paweł Grunert

Admission

Admission to the exhibition and accompanying events is free of charge. Registration is required.

Please note: participation in the workshops is ticketed. Tickets can be purchased via the Serfenta Association website.

Partners

The Adam Mickiewicz Institute, Serfenta Association, Audi.