Magdalena Abakanowicz
Magdalena Abakanowicz, an iconic figure in Polish art, was born in 1930 in Falenty near Warsaw and passed away on April 20, 2017. Her international acclaim stems from her work as a sculptor, textile artist, and installation creator. She pursued her education in Sopot and at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, later becoming a professor in 1979 at the State Higher School of Fine Arts in Poznań, where she led the tapestry studio from 1965 to 1990. Initially, her creations featured textiles made from unconventional materials such as rope, sisal, and horsehair. Over time, she transitioned to creating reliefs and textile sculptures, notably the “abakans,” which led to her exploration of spatial arrangements and outdoor installations. Her work predominantly explores natural forms, especially the human figure. From the early 1980s, Abakanowicz focused more on sculpture, often featuring human figures and occasionally animals, assembled in groups. She utilised materials such as wood, metal, and stone for her monumental sculptures and engaged in architectural projects. Her representation of Poland at the Venice Biennale in 1980, alongside her monumental public works, including Negev at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem (1987) and Agora in Grant Park, Chicago (2006), underscore her influence. Her works are part of prestigious collections worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum in New York, Centre Pompidou in Paris, Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, and Tate Modern in London. Her art has achieved record sales on the Polish art market in recent years.