In 2013, in the Lipowa 3 Gallery, the exhibition ‘Cisza Dialogu’ (Silence of Dialogue) presented the works of students and graduates of the Ceramic Sculpture Studio at the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow. The work of Jakub Niewdana, then a 5th year student at the Faculty of Sculpture, was one of those exhibits. Two openwork towers, composed of ceramic cubes, holding a heavy ceramic ball between them, were an illustration of the play of opposites: the light, the heavy, the fragile and delicate, with the resistant and strong. Seven years later, in completely different circumstances and in a different exhibition space of the Lipowa 3 Gallery, the artistic creations of Jakub Niewdana, quite different from those student’s works, gathered together in the ‘Animalium’ exhibition are presented.

After a period of attempts and experiments, Jakub Niewdana found a way that he consistently follows. He mainly creates animalistic ceramic sculptures, characterised by synthetic, geometrised form and sophisticated colours, often decorated with gold and platinum. Zebras, rhinos, crocodiles, sharks, goats and, above all, gorillas full of strength and expression, are a mixture of Art Deco sophistication, African simplicity and pop-art sense of humour. The designs developed by the Artist come in different colour varieties, attracting the eye with fiery red, juicy green or powder pink.

The ‘Animalium’ exhibition is a summary of the last five years that have passed since the opening of the Artist’s own studio. I cordially invite you to a meeting with the ceramic animal world by Jakub Niewdana.

Aleksandra Skorek,
curator of the exhibition

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JAKUB NIEWDANA – a sculptor and photographer of the young generation, originating from Brzezie near Krakow. In 2014, he graduated with distinction from the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow. In the same year, he received the Scholarship of the Minister of Science and Higher Education. In 2015, Jakub Niewdana began his doctoral studies at the Pedagogical University of Krakow (currently in the process of writing his PhD thesis). Apart from his scientific activity, he is also involved in the work of the ‘Ceramika Bez Granic’ (Ceramics Without Boundaries) association, of which he is a co-founder, as well as in the activity of the ‘Vera Icon’ artistic group associating Christian artists. He took part in numerous exhibitions in Poland and abroad. Since 2015, he has been running his own ceramics studio.

 The Partner of the Project is Lesser Poland Voivodeship.