We warmly invite you to this year’s edition of the Vintage Photo Festival at Galeria Wspólna, featuring Light-sensitive objects by Agnieszka Stefańska. Her works exist at the intersection of photography and sculpture, where analog techniques meet an experimental spirit, and social sensitivity intertwines with abstraction of extraordinary suggestive power. The exhibition includes, among others, the series Brzemienna_ (Pregnant_) and Nić życia (The Thread of Life) — stories about fate, femininity, and memory. Analog photography is an art of patience, attentiveness, and working with matter—which is why Stefańska’s artistic practice resonates so deeply with the spirit of the Vintage Photo Festival. Trained as an architect, the artist is unafraid to “step beyond the wall”. Her works are three-dimensional, tactile, rich in textures and structures: created from acrylic resin and fiberglass, with lace embedded within, and finally, with photographic prints born in the darkroom—crafted from light-sensitive emulsion rather than pixels. Even when addressing difficult themes, Stefańska avoids literalness; she speaks subtly—in black, white, and shades of grey, which for her are both a challenge and a form of soothing silence.
The Thread of Life consists of works on acrylic resin plates that contain authentic lace passed down through generations of women in her family. For Stefańska, lace is not only delicate craftsmanship, but also a symbol of feminine strength, determination, and perseverance. Each thread connects generations into an unbreakable bond. The lace thread becomes a metaphor of shared history and continuity, with every stitch linking past, present, and future. It is a reminder that we are part of a greater whole, whose strength lies in connection and cooperation.
Pregnant_ was created using the artist’s original method of making “prints”, which combines traditional craft with a contemporary graphic approach. Themes of loss, anxiety, and sudden change are expressed through the metaphor of a domino game, in which mystical fate distributes the tiles, determining the cruel randomness of life. Ten domino pieces symbolize destiny, while nine objects reflect the nine months of pregnancy. A randomly introduced bar of soap represents a disruptive momentum—an element capable of unexpectedly altering the course of events, transforming anticipated joy into unwelcome misfortune.
Agnieszka Stefańska (Born in '73. Born in Warsaw.)
has found her vocation across many artistic disciplines: architecture, interior design, photography, graphics, and visual art. She graduated from the Faculty of Architecture at Warsaw University of Technology and the Open Academy at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. She also earned two diplomas with distinction at the ZPAF Photography School in Warsaw. Founder and vice-president of the Association of Interior Architects (SAW) since 2018, and a member of prestigious art organizations including the Association of Polish Visual Artists (ZAP), the International Association of Art, the Association of Polish Artists (ZPAP), and the Association of Polish Art Photographers (ZPAF), she actively contributes to the artistic community. She participates in and judges numerous competitions. In the field of photography, she specializes in emotional, creative, and abstract work, producing both traditional images and photographic objects that go beyond conventional boundaries. Her works have been shown in both solo and group exhibitions.
Opening:
20.09.2025 | 19:00
Opening hours:
Monday–Wednesday | 10:00–17:00
Thursday | 10:00–19:00
Friday | 10:00–17:00
Wspólna Gallery