Presentation of the Katarzyna Kobro Award 2026

On Saturday in November we will meet at ms² in Łódź to once again celebrate the creativity, courage and artistic independence that have guided the Katarzyna Kobro Award for 25 years.

This year's edition is special because we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the award. It is a unique opportunity to look at its history together, to remember the artists who have been honored by it, and above all to meet around ideas that remain alive and important for contemporary art.

We cordially invite you to celebrate this special anniversary together.

The initiator of the award, Prof. Józef Robakowski, with the consent of the artist's daughter, Nika Strzeminska, strengthened the awareness of Kobro's extraordinary achievements, while marking a strong link between the achievements of the avant-garde sculptor and contemporary practices. The Katarzyna Kobro Prize honors people who are constantly looking for answers to ever new questions and persistently negotiate the role of art in society. Every year, a jury composed of artists rewards outstanding achievements in the field of visual arts, especially appreciating experimental and searching attitudes. The idea of this social, grassroots award refers to the tradition of solidarity between artists, which forms the foundation of the Museum of Art in Łódź.

In the years 2001-2009 the Prize was presented in the Eastern Gallery, and its founders were the brothers Krzysztof and Dariusz Bieńkowski. In 2011, it was housed in the Museum of Art. In 2023, the Prize was presented at Galeria W Y. Every year the selection of the jury composed of artists resonates invariably throughout the artistic community.

Katarzyna Kobro (1898—1951) is a key figure in Łódź, Polish and world art. The artist revolutionized thinking about sculpture by introducing a space-time aspect into it, which also defined the social character of shaping space. She was part of an avant-garde movement that redefined the relationship between art and life. The initiator of the creation of the award in her name, Prof. Józef Robakowski, with the consent of the artist's daughter, Nika Strzeminska, strengthened the awareness of Kobro's extraordinary achievements, while marking a strong link between the achievements of the avant-garde sculptor and contemporary practices. The Katarzyna Kobro Prize honors people who are constantly looking for answers to ever new questions and persistently negotiate the role of art in society. Every year, a jury composed of artists rewards outstanding achievements in the field of visual arts, especially appreciating experimental and searching attitudes. The idea of this social, grassroots award refers to the tradition of solidarity between artists, which forms the foundation of the Museum of Art in Łódź.

Winners and winners from previous years:

2001 — Zbigniew Dłubak

2002 — Jürgen Blum-Kwiatkowski

2003 — Andrzej Dluzniewski

2004 — Krzysztof M. Bednarski

2005 — Teresa Murak

2006 — Krzysztof Wodiczko

2007 — Jerzy Lewczynski

2008 — Zbigniew Rybczynski

2009 — Andrzej Lachowicz

2011 — Zygmunt Rytka

2012 — Natalia LL

2013 — Cezary Bodzianowski

2014 — Robert Rumas

2015 — Jadwiga Sawicka

2016 — Karolina Viktor

2017 — Piotr Bosacki

2018 — Cecilia Malik

2019 — Ewa Ciepielewska

2020 — Koji Kamoji

2022 — Elżbieta Jabłońska

2024 — Ewa Zarzycka

2025 — Joanna Rajkowska

Partner: