Polish Modernism Explored as Cultural Resistance

Monday, April 20, 2026

The Visteria Foundation is presenting “Polish Modernism: A Struggle for Beauty” at Milan’s Torre Velasca, showcasing works from the interwar period to today that highlight Poland’s unique modernist design as a form of cultural resistance. By featuring both historical pieces and contemporary reinterpretations, the exhibition reveals how Polish aesthetics served as a subtle defiance against political repression across the country’s turbulent 20th century.

An exhibition in Milan is exploring Polish modernism as a form of cultural and intellectual resistance amid the country’s tumultuous 20th-century history. Titled “Polish Modernism: A Struggle for Beauty,” the show is presented by the Visteria Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting Polish art, craftsmanship, and design. It is held at Torre Velasca, a restored Brutalist tower located in central Milan.

The exhibition draws its name from a 1948 article by Irena Krzywicka, a Polish feminist who wrote in the aftermath of World War II, during a period when Poland had transitioned from German occupation to Soviet influence. Krzywicka argued that beauty served as more than mere decoration—it was a form of defiance in a repressive political climate.

Federica Sala, a curator of the exhibition, emphasized that this historical context sets Polish modernism apart from its Western European counterparts. She noted that while modernism is often associated with rationalism and a strong focus on form and function, Polish design embodies a less rational approach. According to Sala, the “struggle for beauty” represents not only an aesthetic pursuit but also a subtle form of cultural and intellectual resistance.

Spanning works created from the interwar period through to the present day, the exhibition features about two dozen pieces by both prominent Polish avant-garde artists and contemporary designers. Among them is industrial designer and academic Tomek Rygalik, who contributed a sculptural glass chair named Kobro, inspired by Katarzyna Kobro, a noted sculptor of abstract geometric forms also represented in the show.

In addition, several contemporary creators were commissioned to reinterpret modernist designs drawn from the archives of Warsaw’s Institute of Industrial Design. These reinterpretations include a wall unit and a convertible chair, connecting historical designs with present-day perspectives.

“Polish Modernism: A Struggle for Beauty” is open to the public daily at Torre Velasca, Piazza Velasca 3/5, Milan. The exhibition offers insight into how aesthetics intersected with political and cultural resilience in Poland’s modern history.