SELF-PORTRAITS

The “Self-Portraits” exhibition presents an assortment of contemporary examples of this class of artwork, going far beyond the standard depiction of an artist’s likeness that classic art history has accustomed us to. Among the works spanning a range of disciplines (paintings, sculpture, photography, sound installation, and more) we find pieces that are highly personal as well as ones that contribute to a broader analysis of the artist’s place in society.

Visitors to the show will see works by twenty artists: Paweł Althamer, Mirosław Bałka, Agnieszka Brzeżańska, Rafał Bujnowski, Barbara Falender, Izabella Gustowska, Zuzanna Janin, Łukasz Korolkiewicz, Katarzyna Krakowiak-Bałka, Zbigniew Libera, Rafał Milach, Jarosław Modzelewski, Agnieszka Polska, Katarzyna Przezwańska, Karol Radziszewski, Joanna Rajkowska, Wilhelm Sasnal, Jadwiga Sawicka, Aleksandra Waliszewska and Artur Żmijewski.

Our presentation of contemporary self-portraits hearkens back to an idea realised a century ago by Count Ignacy Karol Korwin-Milewski to assemble a collection of self-portraits by 19th-century Polish artists. The two corresponding undertakings illustrate the continuity of the tradition of artistic culture as well as the significance of private patronage. 

The exhibition is the culmination of a project spearheaded by the previous National Museum in Warsaw director, Łukasz Gaweł, and the Friends of NMW Society. Via its charity art auctions, benefit dinners and other statutory activities, the Society raised among its supporters, partners and members the funds for the purchase of the works comprising the collection.

With the “Self-Portraits” exhibition, we wish to encourage a dialogue on the latest art tendencies, and a 21st-century redefinition of the role of the artist, art and the institution of the museum.

Co-organised by the Society of Friends of the National Museum in Warsaw

Concept and curated by Katarzyna Szydłowska-Schiller, Tomasz Jeziorowski

Co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage