Magdalena AbakanowiczShe was born in Falenty in 1930 near Warsaw and her privileged upbringing was cut short by the Nazi invasion of Poland and the subsequent Russian “Liberation”.
Educated at the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts (1950-55) during the repressive period of Socialist Realism, she sought to escape from conventional art forms through weaving.
In the 1960s, she achieved international recognition with her monumental woven fiber installations the ‘Abakans.’
He later works include primitive and disturbing figurative groups made from burlap sacking.
In 1978 she took part in the pioneering exhibition “Soft Art” in Zurich and in 1980, represented Poland at the Venice Biennale.
From 1965 she taught at the Academy of Fine Arts, Poznan, becoming professor in 1979 until 1990.
Her work has been featured in exhibitions throughout the world and she has been the recipient of numerous awards.
Magdalena Abakanowicz
