Exhibition | Between Worlds – Bogumiła Leśniak’s Sculptural Narratives | Partner Event

You are cordially invited to an event hosted by the Folk Artists’ Association, a proud partner of our Festival.

The Folk Art Gallery is delighted to present a retrospective of Bogumiła Leśniak’s four decades of artistic creation. Born in Sucha Beskidzka, Leśniak has been immersed in folk crafts from a young age. While sculpture is her primary passion, her talents extend to embroidery and glass painting. Her marriage to a man deeply rooted in Stryszawa traditions ignited a fascination with the region’s heritage, which she wholeheartedly embraced.

The Leśniak family, renowned for their folk artistry, inspired her enduring love for crafting colorful wooden birds, made particularly for Christmas. Balancing her career as a teacher with her artistic pursuits, Leśniak dedicates her free moments to her workshop, where she meticulously transforms carved figures into enchanting pieces.

With a particular affinity for depictions of Mary and Jesus, Leśniak often integrates her completed figures into ornate chapels. Her work is characterised by a keen eye for detail and ornamentation, evident in the intricate designs adorning her angel sculptures, each dressed in vibrant, patterned attire and adorned with unique attributes. The festive season sees her crafting nativity scenes and Christmas tree ornaments, meticulously matching the colors to reflect the natural world.

Leśniak’s sculptures  create a  lasting “imprint” of rural life,  capturing the essence of village existence through depictions of women at work, figures in traditional attire, and even shepherds. Her artistry weaves a narrative that bridges the earthly and the divine. 

The exhibition showcases a diverse collection of figures and reliefs, including angelic choirs, patron saints (St. Joseph, St. Florian, St. Francis), a nativity scene, and a variety of Marian representations.

A dedicated section features works created during Leśniak’s residency with the National Institute of Culture and Village Heritage. These reliefs offer a creative interpretation of Advent and Shrovetide customs and rituals, drawing inspiration from both personal observations and ethnographic research. Of particular note is the sculptural group depicting the “Walking with Dorota” carol tradition, a custom prevalent among Western Cracovians, Kliszczak and Babiogóra Highlanders. This reenactment of Saint Dorothy’s martyrdom, with its themes of faith and conversion, is a rare and cherished tradition. The procession features a cast of characters including Saint Dorothy, King Fabryceusz, Theophilus, a knight, an executioner, an angel, and a devil.

Exhibition Curator: Katarzyna Kraczoń
Organiser: Folk Artists’ Association

Details

When: 1 June- 31 August 2024, between 23-25 August exhibition open 9.00-18.00
Where: Folk Art Gallery, Grodzka 14
Admission free