Brygida Wróbel-Kulik. Art, spaces, life worlds

The work of Wróbel-Kulik is both extremely autobiographical and ecological. Recurring themes include rivers, borders, gardens as a metaphor for the world and “special places” the artist defines as special. Her work addresses space, the possibilities of its depiction, the identity of places and their symbolism. Nature and biography are inseparably intertwined. Mushrooms, linked to the tragic death of her grandmother who died from mushroom poisoning, are a common theme. At the same time, the mushrooms represent a return to childhood and the relationship with Wróbel-Kulik’s father, who introduced her to the world of forest and meadow plants, to their symbolism and practical use – from the dandelion to herbal remedies. In technical terms she primarily works with layering processes and fine overlays of paper, wax, acid, paint and other materials. Using this collage technique gives rise to multi-layer structures and spatial depth. Wróbel-Kulik is by no means defined exclusively by two-dimensionality. She produces art books, installations and spherical objects. Her work often enters the third dimension and brings movement into play. 

Motherhood was a decisive turning point – even though the artist emphasises that while this did not immediately change her work it did indeed transform it in the long term. The piece “Bibliothek für Miriam” (Library for Miriam), an explosion of colour and material, serves as a metaphor for the most wonderful thing that we can pass onto a child: knowledge, memory and experience. As a result, imaginativeness, playful discovery of the world and experimentation increasingly gained significance for Wróbel-Kulik – not only in regard to techniques but also materials. In the early years this was partially due to limited financial means: Numerous works were thus made from found supporting materials – paper rolls, sample boards, wallpaper catalogues, and later on old maps that the artist wrote over with a new personal meaning. What came from necessity became her signature.

In her work Brygida Wróbel-Kulik weaves intimacy and universality, personal experiences and collective memories into a fine tapestry. Direct and spontaneous artistic gestures are characteristic of these “notes on experience”: A thought is quickly recorded, artistically transformed into a suitable medium and immediately given its own mood, a presence between head and heart.

Katarzyna Schieweck, March 2026