28th June 28, 12-2pm, art’otel London Hoxton

How did 1960s Polish textile artists redefine craft into contemporary art and influence a generation of artists? Join Marta Kowalewska, Chief Curator of the Central Museum of Textiles in Łódź (CMWŁ), as she shares her story behind curating some of the most revolutionary Polish artists, featuring Magdalena Abakanowicz and Barbara Levittoux-Świderska. Learn how fibre, weaving, and fabric became powerful tools for immersive sculpture, avante-garde installation, and materially driven abstraction that launched textiles into international museums and galleries.

Biography

Marta Kowalewska is an art historian and critic, and Chief Curator at the Central Museum of Textiles in Łódź (CMWŁ), Poland. She curated the 16th, 17th, and 18th International Triennial of Textiles in Łódź, as well as exhibitions including Magdalena Abakanowicz. Everything is made of fiber (2025), Wojciech Sadley. Sacrum Profanum. Contemporary Discourse (2025), Antoni Starczewski. Moulding the Ideas (2024), and Metamorphism. Magdalena Abakanowicz (2017-18).

Kowalewska has published over 70 articles, essays, professional interviews, exhibition catalogues, and contributed to both Polish and international institutions in Zacheta Warsaw, TATE Modern, Muzeum Susch/Hatje Cantz, and Musée Bourdelle. She co-authored From Tapestry to Fiber Art: The Lausanne Biennials 1962-1995 (2017) and has edited several books including Textile Textures. Multithreaded narratives (2024), Antoni Starczewski. The Idea of Linear Notation (2022), Magdalena Abakanowicz. Metamorphism (2018), and Splendour of Textiles (2013). She is a board member of the European Textile Network, chairs the Supervisory Board of the Marta Magdalena Abakanowicz-Kosmowska and Jan Kosmowski Foundation, a member of AICA, co-founded Textile Culture Net project, and served on several international juries for textile art.

The afternoon will feature:

· Exclusive talk with Marta Kowalewska including a question and answer session

· Informal networking reception to meet the creatives in the gallery after the talk

Audience: creatives and general public interested in Avante Garde Polish Textile Artists, Textile Art, Magadalena Abakanovic, Barbara Levittoux-Świderska, fashion + textile, and design.

Organized by: Artificial Kreativity Tickets:

Tickets: Buy tickets – Kreative Talk | Marta Kowalewska – art’otel London Hoxton

(This is a ticketed event only and tickets will not be available to purchase at the door)

About Kreative Talks

Kreative Talks, produced by Artificial Kreativity, is a curated speaker series dedicated to sharing the stories behind the creatives shaping the world. Artificial Kreativity launched this initiative in 2025 with the aim of bringing exposure to the creative professions. Previous speakers included Peter Murray OBE, STUFISH, fashion show producer John Walford, and East London mural artist Otto Schade. Learn more about our Kreative Talk series and upcoming speakers here: Kreative Talks

In partnership with art’otel London Hoxton | Polish Cultural Institute in London | Richard Saltoun Gallery | RIBA London | Evelyn Glennie