Event 1:

Polska! A History of Polish Collecting and Display at the V&A

Discover highlights from the V&A’s Polish collections with curator Zorian Clayton.

Join us at the Polish Social and Cultural Association (POSK) for a fascinating illustrated talk exploring the Victoria and Albert Museum’s long-standing relationship with Polish art, design, and creativity.

Event Details

• Date: Saturday, 26 September 2026
• Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM BST
• Location: Atrium, POSK Polish Social and Cultural Centre, London, England
• Hosted By: Talking and Exploring in partnership with POSK
• Supported By: PAFT (Polonia Aid Foundation Trust)

Book Your Tickets Now: HERE

About the Event

The Victoria and Albert Museum holds a rich, centuries-long history of collecting and presenting Polish culture. In this exclusive lecture, V&A Curator Zorian Clayton will introduce you to some of the museum’s most significant Polish objects. Discover hidden stories behind Renaissance treasures displayed in the galleries, intricate textiles, folk art, puppetry, and a remarkable archive of 20th-century graphic design.

The talk will also dive into the V&A’s landmark exhibitions, including the acclaimed “Polish Posters Now!” showcase presented during the London Design Festival 2025 in collaboration with the Adam Mickiewicz Institute.

Agenda:

• Introduction: A short opening by cultural guides Talking and Exploring.
• Main Lecture: Illustrated talk by Zorian Clayton.
• Q&A Session: An open discussion and audience Q&A.

Meet the Speaker

Zorian Clayton is the Curator of Prints (1850–now) at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

A leading expert on poster history and graphic arts, Zorian curated “Polish Posters Now!” (London Design Festival 2025) and co-curated major international exhibitions including “Aubrey Beardsley: A Singular Prodigy” (Japan, 2024–25), “Fashioning Masculinities: The Art of Menswear” (V&A, 2022), and “When Walls Talk” for the House of European History in Brussels.

He is the co-author of The Poster: A Visual History (Thames & Hudson, 2020), with a highly anticipated book on Toulouse-Lautrec arriving in 2027. Beyond the museum world, Zorian served as a film programmer for the British Film Institute (BFI) from 2016 to 2026.

Event 2:

The Polish Poster: A Century of Creativity from the V&A Collections

Explore the extraordinary world of Polish poster design with V&A curator Zorian Clayton.

Join us for an immersive, illustrated talk tracing over 100 years of visual culture, daring typography, and striking symbolism through the Victoria and Albert Museum’s exceptional archive.

Event Details

• Date: Sunday, 27 September 2026
• Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM BST
• Location: Atrium, POSK Polish Social and Cultural Centre, London, England
• Hosted By: Talking and Exploring in partnership with POSK
• Supported By: PAFT (Polonia Aid Foundation Trust)

Book Your Tickets Now: HERE

About the Event

The Victoria and Albert Museum holds a world-class collection of around 400 Polish posters, spanning from the late 19th century to the modern day. Following the highly successful “Polish Posters Now!” exhibition at the V&A during the London Design Festival 2025, curator Zorian Clayton returns to share the history behind these graphic masterpieces.

This lecture explores Poland’s unmatched graphic design heritage, including:

• Art Deco Masterpieces: Early century elegance and structure.
• The Polish Poster School: The internationally celebrated mid-20th-century golden era.
• The Solidarność Era: Powerful, rebellious imagery that shaped political history.
• Contemporary Designs: How today’s artists continue this vibrant, imaginative tradition.

Agenda:

• Introduction: A short opening by cultural guides Talking and Exploring.
• Main Lecture: Illustrated presentation by Zorian Clayton.
• Q&A Session: An open floor discussion with the audience.

Meet the Speaker

Zorian Clayton is the Curator of Prints (1850–now) at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

He was the sole curator behind the V&A’s “Polish Posters Now!” exhibition (London Design Festival 2025). His international portfolio includes co-curating “Aubrey Beardsley: A Singular Prodigy” (Japan, 2024–25), “Fashioning Masculinities: The Art of Menswear” (V&A, 2022), and the European poster exhibition “When Walls Talk” for the House of European History in Brussels.

Zorian is the co-author of The Poster: A Visual History (Thames & Hudson, 2020) and is currently working on an upcoming book about Toulouse-Lautrec (2027). He also spent a decade programming films for the British Film Institute (BFI) from 2016 to 2026.

All information regarding Event 1 can be found HERE

All information regarding Event 2 can be found HERE