Two outstanding artists decided to present their works together. Krystyna Gay-Kutchenreiter, longtime commissioner of the International Ceramics and Sculpture Symposium, and distinguished educator and visual artist Stanisława Wojda-Pytlińska presented their works at the “Mała Biała” gallery at BOK–MCC.
The exhibition, titled “Duet,” features mature, carefully considered works meticulously selected by two accomplished artists. It combines Stanisława Wojda-Pytlińska’s pastels and acrylics with Krystyna Gay-Kutchenreiter’s sculptures. As a special attraction and novelty, Krystyna Gay-Kutchenreiter also displayed her drawings—charming landscapes from the “Kroczki przez Beskidy” series.
Both artists were deeply moved by the number of guests who attended the opening and by the presence of the mayors who have supported them for years: Piotr Roman and Kornel Filipowicz. The ceremony was also attended by Ariadna Sarnowicz, an art historian and lecturer at the Academy of Fine Arts in Wrocław. The exhibition can be viewed daily until the end of the year at the “Mała Biała” gallery in the BOK–MCC building.
Krystyna Gay-Kutchenreiter
Born in Łódź. She studied at the Faculty of Art of Mikołaj Kopernik University in Toruń and at the Ceramics Department in the studio of Professor Rudolf Krzywiec at the State Higher School of Visual Arts (Academy of Fine Arts) in Wrocław. She received her diploma and master’s degree in art in 1962. Since 1962, she has been a member of the Association of Polish Artists and Designers. She works creatively in ceramic sculpture and utilitarian ceramics. She has lived and worked in Bolesławiec for many years, where she was involved in training staff for the ceramics industry.
From 1990 to 2005, she served as artistic commissioner of the nationwide, and from the mid-1990s the international, Ceramics and Sculpture Symposia in Bolesławiec. She organized and curated 55 post-symposium exhibitions in Poland and abroad.
She presented her achievements and artistic interests at solo exhibitions in Szczecin, Kraków, Jelenia Góra, Gorzów Wielkopolski, Zgorzelec, Świdnica, Chorzów, Zabierzów, Myślenice, Krzeszowice and repeatedly in Bolesławiec. She took part in significant group exhibitions in Poland in Wrocław, Gdańsk, Szczecin, Warsaw, Kraków, Poznań, Chorzów, Wałbrzych, Legnica, Zgorzelec, Jelenia Góra, Bolków, Stargard, Sieradz, Słupsk, Gniezno, Chodzież, Jawor and Bolesławiec. Abroad, her works were shown in Dresden, Munich, Pirna, Siegburg, Markersdorf, Waldenburg, Leipzig, Vienna, Prague, Český Krumlov, Malmö and Mozyr.
She received the award of the Mayor of Bolesławiec in 1983, the Minister of Culture and Art’s “Meritorious Cultural Activist” badge in 1994, the award of the Jelenia Góra Voivode in 1998, the Gold Badge of the Association of Polish Artists and Designers in 1999, awards from the Mayor of Bolesławiec from 2004 to 2010, an Honorary Award for the Promotion of the City in 2016, the Minister of Culture and National Heritage’s bronze Gloria Artis medal for merit to culture in 2016, and the Marshal of Lower Silesia’s award for Outstanding Achievements for the Region in 2017. She received honorary citizenship of Bolesławiec in 2016.
Her works are held in the collections of the Museum of Ceramics, the International Ceramics Centre in Bolesławiec, the National Museums in Wrocław and Poznań, the Upper Silesian Museum in Bytom, BWA in Jelenia Góra, Kunstforum Piaristen in Vienna and private collections.
Stanisława Wojda-Pytlinska
The artist was born on September 28, 1947, in Klwaty near Radom. She studied painting at the Teacher Training College in Legnica under Professor Bronisław Chyła. She also graduated from the State Higher School of Fine Arts (now the Academy of Fine Arts) in Gdańsk, Faculty of Painting, specializing in visual arts in Professor Andrzej Dyakowski’s studio. She is currently professionally associated with the Bolesławiec Cultural Centre–International Ceramics Centre, where she runs the “Akademia Sztuki” art studio. Previously, she ran an art studio at the Bolesławiec Community Centre and worked as an artist at the Voivodeship Cultural Centre in Radom.
Solo exhibitions:
- 1981 BWA Kołobrzeg
- 1982 Castle of the Pomeranian Dukes, Szczecin
- 1996 “Format” Gallery, Bolesławiec
- 1999 Museum of Ceramics, Bolesławiec
- 2000 Markersdorf Museum (Germany)
- 2002 Galerie im Rathaus Reichenbach (Germany)
- 2006 “Format” Gallery, Bolesławiec
- 2007 Jakub Böhme House, Zgorzelec
Group exhibitions
- 1971 Ethnographic Museum, Wrocław
- 1972 Museum of Ceramics, Bolesławiec
- 1977 Mazovian Museum, Płock
- 1978 Post-symposium exhibition, Toruń
- 1979 Post-symposium exhibition, Kielce
- 1993 Batik exhibition, Potocki Palace, Łucznica
- 1994 Museum of Ceramics, Bolesławiec
- 1995 Europa Haus, Bad Marienberg (Germany)
- 1996 Museum of Ceramics, Bolesławiec
- 1999 Museum of Ceramics, Bolesławiec
- 2004 Museum of Ceramics, Bolesławiec
- 2008 Galerie im Rathaus Reichenbach (Germany)
- 2009 Museum of Ceramics, Bolesławiec
- 2018 BOK–MCC, Bolesławiec
Artistic activities
- Set designs for poetry and music performances at the Theatre in Radom
- Set designs for monodramas and recitals at the Artistic Creativity Hall in Radom
- Cooperation in the activities of the Institute of Art of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw
- Commissioner for symposia in Kamień Pomorski, Karpacz and Przesieka
Awards
- 1981 Minister of Culture and Art badge
- 1981 Jan Kochanowski Medal, Zwoleń
- 1995–2002 Annual awards from the Minister of National Education
- 1997 Special Award of the Education Superintendent in Jelenia Góra