The Matter of Earth. A New Generation of Polish Collectible Design

Dates: 10 September - 4 October 2026
Address: Institut Polonais de Paris , 31 rue Jean Goujon,  75008 Paris France

Presented during Paris Design Week 2026, and prepared in cooperation with the Polish Institute in Paris, The Matter of Earth. A New Generation of Polish Collectible Design marks Visteria Foundation's debut in France. Following acclaimed presentations in Milan and Warsaw, the exhibition continues the foundation's mission to champion Polish contemporary craft, art and collectible design on the international stage.

"The Matter of Earth reflects what Visteria Foundation was created to do - continue building an international platform for Polish artists, designers and makers at a defining moment for Polish craft and design on the international stage. Working closely with curators Eleonora Bojanowska and Bartosz Brylewski, we wanted to create an exhibition that not only presents exceptional works, but also reveals the ideas, processes and sensibilities behind them. We are proud to bring together both established and emerging artists, creating new opportunities for dialogue beyond Poland. The Matter of Earth is an invitation to discover the remarkable diversity, originality and international relevance of contemporary Polish craft and design," says Katarzyna Jordan, Founder and President of Visteria Foundation.

A continuation of From the Same Earth, a project initiated in 2024 at Villa Pniewski in Warsaw, The Matter of Earth builds upon the original exhibition while expanding its scope with new artists, new commissions and an evolving curatorial narrative. Bringing the project to Paris marks a natural next step in its international journey, placing contemporary Polish collectible design within one of Europe's leading platforms for design and cultural exchange.

Presented in the newly renovated galleries of the Institut Polonais de Paris, the exhibition is co-organised with the Institute as part of Paris Design Week 2026. Located in the heart of Paris's 8th arrondissement, the Institute for more than 45 years serves as a platform for promoting Polish culture and fostering artistic dialogue between Poland and France.

"We are delighted to welcome The Matter of Earth to the Institut Polonais de Paris. This exhibition reflects the vitality and originality of contemporary Polish craft and design while creating new opportunities for cultural dialogue with French and international audiences. We are proud to collaborate with Visteria Foundation in bringing this exceptional exhibition to Paris as part of our shared commitment to promoting contemporary Polish culture internationally," says Małgorzata Grąbczewska, Director of the Institut Polonais de Paris.

Curated by Eleonora Bojanowska and Bartosz Brylewski, The Matter of Earth explores the relationship between artists and the earth - understood as material, landscape, memory and place of origin. Beginning with personal histories, inherited knowledge and local traditions, the exhibition examines how contemporary makers transform natural materials into works that bridge craftsmanship, sculpture and collectible design. Rooted in place yet universal in expression, the works reveal an enduring dialogue between people, material and environment.

The exhibition brings together works by Huba Studio (Jakub Ciemachowski & Piotr Kołakowski), Bart Brylew Studio, Grôpk (Marcin Kuberna), Studio Daniel K (Daniel Kołodziejczak), Formsophy (Alicja Prussakowska & Jakub Kijowski), Anna Milczanowska, Marek Ćwięk, Jan Ankiersztajn, Agnieszka Owsiany, Bartłomiej Stawiński and Aleksandra Zawistowska (Szkło Studio). Together, they represent a new generation of Polish collectible design, united by an experimental approach to material, process and craftsmanship while expressing diverse artistic languages.

Material is not simply a medium within the exhibition but an active collaborator in the creative process. Experimentation lies at the heart of each artist's practice, from forming and firing to carving, casting, joining and transforming raw materials into singular objects. Alongside the finished works, film and photography reveal the creative process itself, documenting the artists' engagement with landscape, material and making. Together, these elements invite visitors to look beyond the finished object and discover the intimate relationship between maker and matter.

Several works have been commissioned especially for The Matter of Earth, while others will be presented publicly for the first time. Throughout the exhibition, nostalgia and melancholy emerge not as sentimentality but as contemporary ways of reconnecting with cultural memory, craftsmanship and the rhythms of the natural world. Through carefully composed spaces, tactile materials and restrained forms, the exhibition offers a quiet reflection on the relationship between tradition and contemporary creation.

Participating Artists