LONDON February 026 'Metamorphosis: Craft from Poland' focuses on material innovation and the creative ingenuity of Polish makers, celebrating ceramics, glass, wood, paper and metal. Alicja Patanowska, Monika Patuszyńska and GRÔPK-Marcin Kuberna present their ceramic explorations alongside wood artists Anna Bera and Maciej Gąsienica Giewont. Marcin Rusak Studio exhibits his renowned resin works, alongside glass artist Katarzyna Krej's delicate installations, and Agata Marchlewicz's bold paper cut outs hang alongside Formsophy's liquid-aluminium cast solid works.  

Hosted by Creative Industries Institute (Poland) and presented in partnership with the Polish Cultural Institute in London and On&On Designs, the Polish exhibition constitutes a design-focused presentation at Collect 2026, a fair which annually celebrates the best in contemporary craft and design. The exhibition is curated by Corinne Julius, a journalist, broadcaster and curator specialising in contemporary craft and design, and designed by architects Miśka Miller-Lovegrove and Roman Lovegrove, founders of the multidisciplinary London design studio MM-L bringing extensive experience in architecture, exhibition design and cultural installations. 

Corinne Julius, Curator says “I've known about Polish creativity for a while, having shown Marcin Rusak and Alicja Patanowska just after their graduation in my Future Heritage exhibition. However, I wasn't prepared for the extraordinary creativity, passion, intellectual rigour, innovative use of materials and processes and pure beauty that I encountered on my recent trips to Poland. I'm delighted to bring a small section of that talent to Collect 2026 for a wider audience to enjoy”. 

Aleksandra Szymańska, Director of Creative Industries Institute (Poland) says, 'Polish creativity is rooted in a deep respect for materials and a willingness to experiment. 'Metamorphosis: Craft from Poland' brings together artists redefining what contemporary craft can be - confident, curious and boldly imaginative. This showcase captures the ambition, imagination and global potential of Poland's creative sector today and we are proud to present this powerful, energetic snapshot at Collect 2026. 

Anna Tryc-Bromley, Director, Polish Cultural Institute in London says, “For years the Polish Cultural Institute in London has worked to build visibility for Polish design in the UK - the strength of talent emerging on the global stage is unmistakable. Following the huge success of the UK/Poland Season 2025, 'Metamorphosis: Craft from Poland' at Collect 2026 presents a new generation of Polish makers that are highly educated, concept-led, distinguished by material innovation and often shaped by international experience, including the UK. We are proud that Polish creativity is celebrated once again as modern, ambitious and internationally fluent''. 

TF Chan, Fair Director of Collect says, ''I had the pleasure of visiting Warsaw last year as a guest of the Polish Cultural Institute in London and came away impressed by the depth and breadth of Poland's contemporary craft and design. Not only is the work ambitious and distinctive, but it draws on local craft traditions while pushing material and process in bold, inventive ways. In my mind, Poland is home to some of the most exciting creative talents in Europe today, so I'm thrilled to welcome the Creative Industries Institute's debut at Collect 2026, which will no doubt be a standout presentation'. 

Following the successful UK/Poland Season 2025, Polish creativity continues to inspire. Having experienced significant economic and creative growth in recent years the country is now recognised for its vibrant and increasingly influential creative scene. With a heritage built on skilled craft traditions, the country stands at the forefront of dynamic creative practices, delivering a distinctive energy driven by deep conceptual thinking and material intelligence. 

Collect 2026, presented by Crafts Council and under the leadership of new Fair Director TF Chan, presents more than 300 contemporary artists presented by 40 specialist galleries and arts organisations from across the globe. The exhibitors hail from countries including Canada, China, Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, South Korea and the UK. 

Anka Simone, initiator of the 'Metamorphosis; Craft from Poland' project and co-founder of On&On Designs says, “This exhibition is part of our long-term commitment to promote Polish design and craft in London. We were fortunate to contribute to the UK/Poland Season 2025 through public installations, studio visits, and exhibitions, and are proud to continue this journey with our Polish partners. It's vital to keep this momentum and secure a lasting presence for Polish creative talent at London's key fairs and festivals”. 

'Metamorphosis: Craft from Poland' presents nine artists: Alicja Patanowska introduces a limited-edition series of signed wall compositions from handmade ceramic tiles derived from her acclaimed 'Ripple Effect' installation (V&A 2025). GRÔPK – Marcin Kuberna reveals new coiled sculptural ceramic works expressing his signature textured, instinct-driven approach. Monika Patuszyńska features pieces from her 'Study of Deformation' and 'From the Bastards' series, celebrating intentional cracks, fractures and reconstructed forms, and Anna Bera shares sculptural works in wood and mirrored surfaces that explore sensory perception and playful organic movement.  

Maciej Gąsienica Giewont offers new turned green‑wood vessels and sculptural forms shaped by moisture, time and the natural unpredictability of the material. Katarzyna Krej unveils five wall-mounted glass modules, and a constellation of suspended glass works that animate light, colour and shadow and Agata Marchlewicz displays three bold contemporary paper cut-outs that reinterpret Polish folk traditions through a modern graphic lens.  

Marcin Rusak Studio presents 'Flora Lamp II', a unique translucent resin work that embeds preserved flowers and reveals botanical detail through soft LED illumination. Formsophy showcases a Console and Coffee Table cast in liquid aluminium with embedded stones, shaped outdoors by natural elements. 

The Polish presence at Collect 2026 marks an important moment for contemporary craft and design, presenting a powerful cross‑section of material innovation, conceptual depth and artistic identity. From Formsophy's raw, refined romantic brutalism to Monika Patuszyńska's poetic reinvention of clay, and spanning the sculptural woodworks of Bera and Giewont, the expressive ceramics of GRÔPK, the delicate clarity of Krej's glass, Marchlewicz's reimagined folk paper traditions, Patanowska's ecological investigations and Rusak's botanical illuminations, this exhibition offers a compelling dialogue between tradition and transformation. Set within the broader context of Collect 2026, Poland's debut showcase stands out for its dynamism, experimentation and cultural confidence. In a moment when optimism can feel scarce, this exhibition positions Poland as a place where ideas take shape, materials evolve, and creativity thrives. A place to watch.