Romantic Brutalism. A Journey into Polish Craft and Design

When Poland reappeared on the world stage in 1918, after more than a century of foreign rule, it sought to emphasise its identity by participating in the 1925 International Exhibition of Decorative and Modern Art in Paris. To commemorate the centenary of this event, the newly established Visteria Foundation, founded by publisher and patron of the arts Catherine Jordan, coordinated the presentation of Polish crafts and design during Milan Design Week.

The newly established Visteria Foundation aims to help the creativity of Polish designers and artists gain international recognition. Katarzyna Jordan and her team have been patrons of the Polish Pavilion at the Venice Art Biennale for years, and are partners of the Zachęta National Gallery of Art, the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw and the Adam Mickiewicz Institute.

The inaugural show will take place in April 2025 during Milan Design Week. Curated by Federica Sala, the exhibition and its accompanying programme of events will introduce international audiences to key trends in Polish craft and collector design, allowing viewers to explore the evolution of Polish aesthetics and motifs from tradition to modernity.

Organised with the invaluable support of Polish institutions, including the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, the exhibition will provide a comprehensive overview of the new generation of Polish designers, linking their work to the rich history and pedigree of Polish craft and design.

Through a series of curatorial encounters, the exhibition will highlight the importance of the themes of nature and post-nature, and how the historical influences of brutalism, romanticism, decadence, folk and art deco continue to shape contemporary Polish design culture. Objects created by twenty-three selected designers will be presented in sections highlighting the role of materials such as wood, glass, ceramics, steel, as well as lace and textiles.

The exhibition's unique arrangement, created by Zuza Paradowski of Paradowski Studio, reminiscent of a theatre set, will transform ten rooms, one outdoor terrace and two corridors into a captivating experience.

"The ambition of this exhibition is to present the rich tapestry of Polish design to the world, going beyond the well-known names to reveal the line connecting its history to the present. The aim is to illustrate how concepts such as nature, eternity and transformation and styles such as brutalism, romanticism, decadence, folk and art deco are reinterpreted and re-imagined today, resulting in intriguing fusions such as romantic brutalism and post-natural decadence," said Federica Sala, curator of the Milan Design Week exhibition.

After its debut in Milan, the exhibition will make its way to Warsaw and will be presented in the historic Gawronski Villa, which will become the permanent headquarters of the Foundation and a private museum of art and design.

Romantic Brutalism. A Journey to Polish Craft and Design
7-13 April 2025
Address: Viale di Porta Vercellina 11, Milano