Gallery of Polish Design

The NMW has something special in store to mark the end of 2017. Starting from 15th December, Polish applied arts will be on permanent display in the Gallery of Polish Design, showcasing the most important pieces from the early 20th century up to the present day.

The NMW’s new permanent gallery shows the numerous approaches to design prevalent throughout the various decades and artistic circles – from the Zakopane milieu, Krakow Workshops, “Ład” Artists’ Cooperative and modernists in the “Praesens” group, through the post-war reconstruction period, Social Realism, the Polish thaw and post-1956 modernism – when Polish applied arts developed with the greatest dynamism – to the finest examples of contemporary design. A separate mention will be given to aspects of industrial design, design for children and ethnographic design.

On display in the modern gallery setting are mass-produced objects, such as popular TV and radio sets, furniture, textiles, and household appliances, as well as outstanding Polish designs that have only ever existed as blueprints, models and prototypes and were never freely available. However, these works testify to the great potential of Polish applied arts. These highly inventive everyday objects are presented in chronological order, punctuated by the most important artistic and historical events. The display is interspersed with photographic material and fragments from archive newsreels.

See also:

Gallery of Polish Design – guidebook