Piotr Voelkel is one of the wealthiest Poles, the founder of the VOX Group and owner of the best non-public Uniwersity in Poland - SWPS. But instead of sitting on a pile of cash like Scrooge McDuck, he’s busy trying to change the world. He puts up iconic buildings, educates designers, sponsors exhibitions and backs young talent. What role plays art in his life? Why does he keep placing art installations in public space – and who is unhappy about it? How can you start collecting art yourself?

The project “Art in the City – a podcast about contemporary Polish art” is co‑financed from the funds of the National Recovery Plan under Investment A2.5.1.

Jakub Szczęsny is an architect and artist best known as the author of the Keret House, often described as the narrowest house in the world. His work fuses radical minimalism with a deep reflection on historical memory and the social role of architecture. Szczęsny’s projects explore “impossible architecture” and treat space as a tool for social change. How do art and architecture shape cities and everyday life, and what does luxury really mean? Join us on a journey from Poland to Kazakhstan, Algeria, Austria, Spain and other corners of the world that Szczęsny holds dear.

The project “Art in the City – a podcast about contemporary Polish art” is co‑financed from Poland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan under Investment A2.5.1.europarl.europa+1

Traffic Design is a collective of people who care about making life in Polish cities better. How can that be achieved? For instance, by improving the aesthetics of urban spaces — replacing visual noise and chaotic signage with simple, well-designed lettering, bringing back neon lights, introducing art into public spaces, and creating murals.  

Natalia Wielebska explains what is placemaking and why it’s good to listen to all parties — not only residents and city officials, but also developers and… spiritual beings.  

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https://trafficdesign.prowly.com

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The project "Art in the City – a podcast about contemporary Polish art" is co-financed by the National Recovery Plan under Investment A2.5.1.

Mariusz Waras, aka M-City, is a world street art scene legend—he’s painted with Banksy at Leake Street Can Festival, designed the world’s most expensive rum bottle, and hungs out with Will Smith or Pierce Brosnan. Above all, he’s a versatile, consistent, and prolific artist. In his studio at the legendary Gdańsk Shipyard. We talk about art, cities, machines, fame, AI, old computers, the gritty realities of street art life, and travel adventures.

Check out his work: https://www.instagram.com/m_city_mariusz_waras/

The “Art in the City – podcast about contemporary Polish art” project is co-financed by the National Recovery Plan under Investment A2.5.1.

Cecylia Malik is a painter, visual artist and environmental activist whose work has a tangible impact on public space, especially in Kraków. How did art help save a charming little spot from a developer’s plans? How do you become an “artivist”? And what makes artistic actions different from “ordinary” protests?

We talk about Sisters of the Rivers, defending the Vistula and Białka rivers, the Water Critical Mass, and why it makes sense to climb trees in the name of protecting nature.

Music: Sutari  

https://www.sutari.pl/

The project “Art in the City – a podcast about contemporary Polish art” is co‑financed by the National Recovery Plan under Investment A2.5.1.

Thomas Phifer is the architect behind what is arguably the most controversial building Warsaw has seen in the past decade – the Museum of Modern Art. A block, a box, a bunker – those are some of the kinder nicknames locals have coined for the structure on Marszałkowska Street. What many people do not realise, however, is that Phifer will shape the very heart of the capital even more profoundly: right next door, the new TR Warszawa Theatre is rising, also designed by him. What is the philosophy behind these two buildings? Is the museum really as bad as its critics claim? Can Warsaw’s light be a source of inspiration, and how did a project so heavily criticised in Poland end up enchanting the editors of The New York Times?

The project “Art in the City – a podcast about contemporary Polish art” is co-financed from the funds of the National Recovery Plan under Investment A2.5.1.

The most famous street artist in the world — and perhaps one of the most popular artists of our time, period. Who is Banksy? We won’t try to solve that mystery here. Instead, we’ll take a closer look at his art. Join me for a top 10 of Banksy’s most powerful, provocative, and ingenious actions — the works that brought him fame, global recognition, and ultimately money, though where it all really comes from remains an open question.

Today, we’ll travel to the UK, the Middle East, the United States, and Ukraine, unpacking not only his artworks but also more than one intriguing, almost detective-like mystery along the way.

Unofficial but excellent website: https://banksyexplained.com/
Map of Banksy’s works: https://banksymap.com/
Alternativity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JzgVzUaPU4
Cakes Stencils: https://www.instagram.com/cakes_stencils/

The project “Art in the City — a podcast about contemporary Polish art” is co-financed by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan under Investment A2.5.1.

How do you become a truly 21st-century artist — someone capable of creating an audiovisual show across skyscrapers in Shenzhen, China? Projection mapping is an art form that embraces the latest technological innovations and isn’t afraid of a truly gigantic scale. How do you bring to life a train station, a palace, an airport or even your own home?

My guest, Dariusz Makaruk, creates things no one has done before and lives his own dreams. In this episode, you’ll find plenty of inspiration, a few golden insights, some behind-the-scenes secrets, and a lot of great music.

The project “Art in the City – a podcast about contemporary Polish art” is co-financed by the National Recovery Plan under Investment A2.5.1.

What is street art — and does it even exist? Who are the most influential street artists in Poland? Where can their works be found, and what stories lie behind them?
In the first episode of our artistic journey in search of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty, we talk to Paweł Kwiatkowski, author of the book Street Art Polska.

The project “Art in the City – a podcast about contemporary Polish art” is co-financed by the National Recovery Plan under Investment A2.5.1.