From March 28 to April 17, 2025, the Aula of the Art Academy of Latvia (AAL) will host the Polish contemporary painting exhibition “The New Generation”, organized in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Riga.

The exhibition will feature works by five internationally recognized young-generation Polish artists – Martyna Czech, Anna Grzymała, Martyna Borowiecka, Julita Malinowska, and Bartosz Czarnecki.

The opening of the exhibition will take place on March 27 at 17:00 in the AAL Aula.

The new generation of Polish painters represents one of the most significant and dynamic developments in contemporary Polish art. Although this movement is relatively recent, it has already gained widespread international recognition.

The artists featured in this exhibition represent diverse approaches to contemporary painting, yet they share a fresh and confident perspective on the role of art in modern society. Their works transcend historical boundaries and regional characteristics, introducing new energy and a global outlook. The exhibition will offer a unique opportunity to explore the wide range of their artistic expressions – from emotionally charged and expressive paintings to ironic and intellectually engaging experiments.

Polish curator and art critic Krzysztof Stanisławski, who has been observing artistic developments for over 40 years, describes this new artistic revival as a unique phenomenon in the Polish art scene. "A similar occurrence was seen only once before – in the 1980s, when the New Expression movement emerged as a wave of independent art opposing the political and cultural constraints of the communist regime. Back then, the ‘wild Polish artists’ became pioneers, and today, many of them are respected professors at leading art institutions with distinguished international careers," he notes.

Featured Artists:
Martyna Czech (b. 1990)
One of the standout names in the exhibition and an already established young-generation artist. Her works are provocative, emotionally intense, and direct, addressing the realities of young women’s lives, emotional struggles, and relationships. Czech employs sharp, often shocking visual techniques to reveal the existential sense of emptiness in contemporary society.

Anna Grzymała (b. 1997)
Painting as storytelling – this is how Grzymała’s works can be described. She creates dreamlike, visually rich compositions that blend painting with literature, constructing multi-layered narratives.

Martyna Borowiecka (b. 1989)
Borowiecka fuses painting with commercial imagery, offering an ironic commentary on consumer culture. Her works juxtapose classical portraiture and genre scenes with luxurious brand advertisements, creating a satirical world.

Julita Malinowska (b. 1979)
Beaches, human bodies, and candid everyday moments – Malinowska’s paintings depict scenes of leisure and private life that appear lighthearted and carefree but, in reality, contain deep sociological observations. Her artworks present people in informal settings, often in swimwear, captured in various poses and situations, showcasing the human form in ways not typically seen in traditional art canons. Her work provides a subtle yet critical perspective on body image in contemporary culture.

Bartosz Czarnecki (b. 1988)
Czarnecki creates analytical and technically refined paintings that reinterpret old masters' works. He experiments with the surface of the canvas, searching for a contemporary vision of classical artistic heritage.

Exhibition Dates & Venue

March 28 – April 17, 2025
Monday – Friday: 10:00–18:00
Break: 14:30–15:00
AAL Aula, Kalpaka Boulevard 13, Riga
Admission: Free

Project Implementation & Support

The exhibition "The New Generation" is part of the activities marking Poland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2025. The event is organized in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Riga, which is the main partner of this project.

Together with curator Krzysztof Stanisławski, this project will continue in 2026 at the Znaki Czasu Center for Contemporary Art in Toruń, Poland, where an exhibition of young Latvian painters is planned.

The project is co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland from the Cultural Promotion Fund.

Exhibition Team
Curator: Krzysztof Stanisławski (Artistic Campaign, Warsaw)
Coordinator in Latvia: Inese Rozentāla (Art Academy of Latvia)
Special thanks to Tomasz Szeratics, Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Riga, for his significant contribution to this project.