Opening of the exhibition “Adam Petryna”

OPENING OF THE EXHIBITION TITLED. “ADAM PETRYNA”

21 November 2026 (Saturday)/15:00/Historical Museum Skierniewic/ free admission

Jan Olszewski Historical Museum of Skierniewice
is honored to invite you to
Opening of the exhibition entitled “Adam Petryna”
which will take place
21 November 2026 (Saturday)
at 15:00
in the Historical Museum of Skierniewice (ul. S. Batorego 64 J, Skierniewice)

CURATOR:
• Marzena Rafinska

COORDINATOR:
• Marek Iwaniak

COOPERATION:
• Agata Niedziółka
• Anna Majda-Baranovska
• Radosław Stefanek
• Bartłomiej Wojcik
• Katarzyna Siatkowska
• Katarzyna Tarkowska
• Vladimir Vasilevsky
• Maciej Białek

ORGANIZER:
• Jan Olszewski Historical Museum of Skierniewice

CO-ORGANISERS:
• Ministry of Culture and National Heritage
• Mayor of Skierniewice
• City of Skierniewice

WORKS FROM THE COLLECTION:
• National Museum in Warsaw
• Museum of Art in Łódź
• Museum in Łowicz
• Jan Olszewski Historical Museum of Skierniewice
• Tadeusz Targaszewski — private collection
• Andrzej Tutka — private collection
• dr Maciej Dębski — private collection
and others

HONORARY PATRONAGE:
• Marshal of the Łódź Voivodeship — Joanna Skrzydlewska
• Mayor of the City of Skierniewice — Krzysztof Jażdżyk
• Mayor of Skierniewicki County — Mirosław Belina
• Head of Godzianów Commune — Andrzej Mozga
• Head of Lipce Reymontowskie Commune — Marek Sałek
• Head of the Municipality of Zduny — Krzysztof Skowroński

PARTNERS:
• Łódź Voivodeship — Marshal's Office of the Łódź Voivodeship
• Public Library and Cultural Centre of the Municipality of Zduny

MEDIA PATRONAGE:
• RSC Radio
• 96-HUNDRED
• Radio Victoria
• E-kalejdoskop.pl
• infokierniewice.pl
• e-gloss
• kierniewice.nasasto.pl
• ITS Dziennik Łódź
• Weekly Catholic Gość Niedzielny — editor of Gość Łowicki

ADAM PETRYNA (1881-1942) — an outstanding sculptor, painter, cartoonist, sociologist and propagator of folk culture of the Łowica-Skierniewice region.

He was born on January 15, 1881 in Zapady. He was the son of Joseph and Anastasia of Dur. He was educated at the Krakow Academy of Fine Arts. In 1925 he took part in the exhibition “Portrait of Poland” organized by the Society for the Encouragement of Fine Arts. In his work, he turned to folk motifs, willingly sculpted and painted portraits of rural girls and women. He himself wore a peasant coat, emphasizing his origin. He worked for the support and popularization of the works of folk artists. He initiated the creation of the Museum of Wl. Reymont in Skierniewice, which was opened in 1926 in the church building on Green Square. The exhibition includes a portrait of Władysław Reymont and sculptures of characters from the “Peasants” by Petryna. However, the museum was quickly closed and the church was demolished. Adam Petryna began efforts to establish an institution that would bring together folk artists and provide care for artistically gifted princely youth. In the end, it was possible to win the favor of the Warsaw Provincial Regional Committee, whose chairman, voivode Stanisław Twardo and general secretary Ignacy Gintowt-Dzlewałtowski, were involved in setting up the fire. Thanks to their favor, an association of folk artists was established under the name Księżackie Fognisko Kultury, Sztuki i Industrie Ludowego. It brought together folk artists, both painters and sculptors, as well as weavers and cut-out makers. In February 1928, the statute was approved. The fire also received a seat in the estate of Złakov Kościelny. Two years later, on May 30, 1930, the President of the Republic Ignacy Mościcki made the official opening of the Bonfire. It was also then that the first exhibition of the Bonfire took place. In July 1930, during the International Exhibition of Communication and Tourism in Poznań, Ognisko prepared an exhibition for which he received a letter of commendation. In September 1930 it was exhibited in Warsaw at the Polish Tourism Exhibition, and in October at the Second Northern Fair in Vilnius, where it received a diploma “for a small silver medal”. Despite the success of numerous national and international exhibitions, the Bonfire was closed due to too high maintenance costs and was auctioned off in 1935. The artist died on 23 August 1942 in Zapady, he was buried in Godzianów.

Project “Noble goals and ideas. The story of Adam Petryn — an artist from the West” was co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage from the Culture Promotion Fund — a state special purpose fund, within the framework of the Folk and Traditional Culture 2026 program.

The exhibition will be open until March 31, 2027.

We cordially invite you!

Opening of the exhibition entitled Adam Petryna