On the occasion of the ceremony presenting the silver Gloria Artis medal, many words of praise were spoken about Bolesławiec artist and chief designer of Zakłady Ceramiczne „Bolesławiec” Janina Bany-Kozłowska. She was most often described as a person of extraordinary character and great heart—honest, modest and exceptionally talented.
During her career as a designer, Janina Bany-Kozłowska created more than 1,500 designs and received many awards, medals and distinctions. Her ceramic sculptures and vessels have been and continue to be exhibited in Poland, Europe and the United States.
Deputy Minister Ilona Antoniszyn-Klik, who presented the artist with the prestigious distinction, emphasized the importance of the designer’s work for Poland and the country’s standing in the world. “You create beautiful works while also developing our industry as a designer. You are a role model and an exceptionally valuable person for our country,” the deputy minister said.
Employees and the president of ZC „Bolesławiec” spoke about their colleague in simple and heartfelt words. “Modest and great—that is how Janina can be described,” said Karol Stasik. “Thanks to her, Bolesławiec ceramics continues to develop. She is consistent, and her determination destroys all the naysayers. On behalf of the entire staff, I bow before your genius and thank you for what you have done for us, for Bolesławiec ceramics and Polish culture, and I know that you have not yet said your last word,” the president thanked his designer.
Janina Bany-Kozłowska thanked everyone for such wonderful words. She was deeply moved and overwhelmed by the well-deserved honors. “I am moved and bow before you. I cannot work in any other way than collegially; I am conciliatory, I know, but I am also stubborn. What matters most to me is the standard and reputation of my company,” the artist said. “Industrial design is not easy; a designer’s work is assessed every day. People have often said that I am modest. It is not modesty but humility, because my design is made by many people and then assessed by buyers. When I began working in Bolesławiec 41 years ago, I did not dream of medals or honors. I did not know that I would manage to lay the foundations of design at my company. I do not consider myself exceptional; everyone has some talent. I set the bar high for myself and will never support mediocrity or cheapness. I would like to thank the president of Bolesławiec, the president of Zakłady Ceramiczne, the directors of the Museum of Ceramics and BOK-MCC, the president of the Bolesławiec Enthusiasts’ Society, and all my colleagues and friends. I was supposed to come to Bolesławiec for a short while, but I stayed for more than 40 years. I think I can now say that I am a woman of Bolesławiec,” concluded her speech the Gloria Artis awardee, Janina Bany-Kozłwska.
Immediately after the ceremony, the Museum of Ceramics hosted the opening of “Harmony of Form,” a monographic exhibition of Janina Bany-Kozłowska’s work, prepared from the Museum’s collections and the private collection of Janina and Mieczysław Kozłowski. The exhibition presented both functional ceramics—from the oldest designs, now considered iconic, to the latest proposals—and artistic sculptural forms.
The ceremony at which Janina Bany-Kozłowska was awarded the “Gloria Artis Medal for Merit to Culture” was attended by Bolesławiec Mayor Piotr Roman and organized by the Museum of Ceramics in Bolesławiec, the Bolesławiec Enthusiasts’ Society, Zakłady Ceramiczne „Bolesławiec” Sp. z o.o., the Municipality of Bolesławiec and the Bolesławiec Cultural Centre–International Ceramics Centre.