Romantic Brutalism - Milan Design Week 2025
Polish craft in two acts: Romantic Brutalism in Milan Design Week
Milan, 2025
When Poland re-emerged on the world stage in 1918, following over a century of foreign rule, it sought to acclaim its identity by participating in the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris.
“Romantic Brutalism”, Milan Design Week, 2025. Photo: Ludovic Balay
To celebrate the centenary of that event, the newly established Visteria Foundation coordinated a showcase of Polish craft and design at Milan Design Week. The Foundation aims to help the creativity of Polish designers and artists gain international recognition. Organised with the invaluable support of Polish institutions, including the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, the exhibition provided a comprehensive overview of the new generation of Polish designers, connecting their work to the rich history and lineage of Polish craft and design.
Through a series of curated encounters, the exhibition underscored the importance of themes relating to nature and post-nature, and how historical influence of brutalism, romanticism, decadence, folk, and art deco continues to shape contemporary Polish design culture.
“Romantic Brutalism”, Milan Design Week, 2025. Photo: Ludovic Balay
Press
“Romantic Brutalism”, Milan Design Week, 2025. Photo: Ludovic Balay
“Romantic Brutalism. A Journey into Polish Craft and Design” was presented by Visteria Foundation during Milan Design Week 2025 and later in Willa Gawrońskich.
Organised by: Visteria Foundation
Co-organizer of the event: Adam Mickiewicz Institute
Curator: Federica Sala
Scenography: Zuza Paradowska (Paradowski Studio)
Media Partner: Vogue Poland
Contemporary artists: Jan Ankiersztajn, Anna Bera, Marek Bimer, Zofia Chylak, Monika Dąbrowska-Picewicz, Derive, Formsophy, Maciej Gąsienica-Giewont , The Good Living & Co, Kasia Harasym, Hasik Design, Marcin Kuberna , Kasia Kucharska, Mikołaj Moskal, Aleksander Oniszh, Agnieszka Owsiany, Monika Patuszyńska, Jakub Przyborowski, Marcin Rusak , Filomena Smoła, Splot Kilim, UAU Project, UNISM, Aleksandra Zawistowska.
Historical artists: Magdalena Abakanowicz, Krystyna Wojtyna-Drouet, Zbigniew Horbowy, Jerzy Słuczan-Orkusz, Jolanta Owidzka, Antoni Rząsa, Olgierd Szlekys, Henryk Albin Tomaszewski, Lubomir Tomaszewski, Władysław Wincze, Władysław Wołkowski, Irena Żmudzińska.
The project was co-financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage.