Domicella Bożekowska (1927 – 2019) and Barbara Levittoux-Świderska (1933 – 2019)- Nature of friendship

For the first time, Ciacek Gallery in Warsaw is realizing an exhibition that was the shared dream of two close friends — artists and graduates of the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw in the 1950s, where they studied in the Departments of Painting, Sculpture, and Artistic Textile.

Bożekowska was a sculptor fascinated by the animal world, creating her own distinctive universe in defiance of prevailing trends. Levittoux-Świderska — a painter, textile designer, and sculptor — responded to the art world in a similar spirit, focusing on her personal formal explorations. Both women were unconventional, uncompromising creators — sincere and courageous in their artistic choices, though their expressions took radically different forms. In their focused creative processes, they each turned to nature for inspiration. Levittoux-Świderska employed everyday objects and natural materials in innovative ways, seeking their visual essence.Bożekowska aimed to radically redefine how animals are perceived. Embracing the notion that we are simply animals of different species, she elevated them to beings with "personality" and made their image — especially that of the wolf — her personal artistic motif.

The exhibition at Ciacek Gallery is a tribute to the spirit of artistic independence and a celebration of two women who spoke with bold and authentic voices through their work.

curator: Anna Maria Leśniewska