Paulina Olowska

Reference monograph

Paulina Olowska’s work demonstrates an interest on Communist Poland’s fascination with Western consumerism and celebrates the spirit and stylish improvisations of the “Applied Fantastic”—a term coined by Polish writer Leopold Tyrmand in 1954, to describe the vernacular re-creations of Western styles.

In her paintings, collages, and knitted works, Olowska incorporates text and graphics from found illustrations or images that have a decidedly “behind the Iron Curtain” look, while paying tribute to American Pattern and Decoration art of the 1970s and its use of non-traditional contemporary art mediums such as tiles and textiles.

This publication is the first monograph to offer an overview of her work. It includes an interview with Adam Szymczyk and an essay by Jan Verwoert.

Olowska, who lives and works in the Polish countryside, has had recent one-person and project exhibitions at MoMA, New York (2011),Tramway, Glasgow (2010); Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich (2009); DAAD Galerie, Berlin (2008); and Portikus, Frankfurt (2007).

Published in collaboration with Kunsthalle Basel.