Aleksandra Zawistowska is an artist and designer. She creates objects, designs spaces, art directs and curates. Together with her brother, Wojciech Zawistowski, she founded Szkło Studio. Her sculptural work combines a passion for raw, natural materials with an enthusiasm for the unexpected in making-processes. Engaging with different techniques she works mainly with glass, stone and metal.
Based in Amsterdam and Warsaw, she holds a master’s degree in both, art and architecture. She gained education at Studio for Immediate Spaces (MA) at Sandberg Instituut, Architecture for Society of Knowledge (MSc) at WAPW, Aquitectura at Universidade Lusiada and Art of Design in Gdańsk. Scholarship holder of UrbanGlass in New York, selected for Stretching the Definition of Design by GLUE, published in the annual list of BNO: Dutch Designers Magazine of 2023. Finalist of the Kunszt: More Light Program of the Starak Family Foundation.
Aleksandra's work were exhibited in the Netherlands, Poland, Denmark, Georgia and Ukraine, Italy, in institutions such as the Museum of Warsaw, the National Museum in Krakow, Het Nieuwe Instituut, Het HEM, Dutch National Opera, Architecture Biennale in Tbilisi, as well as private ones: Nilufar Gallery in Milan, Fredericia Furniture in Copenhagen. Aleksandra’s glass was exhibited at the Object Rotterdam, where she was titled the New Talent 2023.
In 2024 she will take part in Artist Residency in Baltic Gallery of Contemporary Art and Arctic Circle Expedition.
EDUCATION
Sandberg Instituut: Studio for Immediate Spaces, Master of Arts, Amsterdam, 2020-2022
Warsaw University of Technology: Architecture for Society of Knowledge, MSc in Architecture, Warsaw, 2015-2019
Warsaw University of Technology, Universidade Lusiada de Lisboa, BSc in Architecture and Urban Planning, Warsaw, 2010-2014, Lisbon, 2013
Sztuka Projektowania: Graphic designer, Gdansk, 2017
Warsaw University of Technology: Architecture for Society of Knowledge, MSc in Architecture, Warsaw, 2015-2019
Warsaw University of Technology, Universidade Lusiada de Lisboa, BSc in Architecture and Urban Planning, Warsaw, 2010-2014, Lisbon, 2013
Sztuka Projektowania: Graphic designer, Gdansk, 2017
SCHOLARSHIPS
UrbanGlass, Brooklyn, NYC (USA), 2023
Pilecki Institut: “Exercising Modernity” Warsaw, Berlin, 2021
Stichting Bekker-la Bastide-Fonds, Amsterdam, 2021
Pilecki Institut: “Exercising Modernity” Warsaw, Berlin, 2021
Stichting Bekker-la Bastide-Fonds, Amsterdam, 2021
ART RESIDENCIES
Sculpture Workshop, Baltic Contemporary Art Gallery, Ustka (PL), 2024
Arctic Circle Expedition, Open Bay Centre for Art and Science, New York (NO/ USA) , 2024
Arctic Circle Expedition, Open Bay Centre for Art and Science, New York (NO/ USA) , 2024
PRIZES
Starak Family Foundation: “Kunszt. More Light”, 2023 - Finalist
Wyborcza Magazine: “Stolki wyborczej”, 2019 - Nomination
Non-architecture Competitions: “New ideas for buying”, 2019 - Honourable mention
Wyborcza Magazine: “Stolki wyborczej”, 2019 - Nomination
Non-architecture Competitions: “New ideas for buying”, 2019 - Honourable mention
CURATION
Dutch National Opera, OFF Festival - Opera performance, Amsterdam, 2022
Het HEM, Roots and Wings - Exhibition, Amsterdam, 2021
When Site Lost the Plot Art Gallery, Markig the Site - Artist residency, Amsterdam, 2021
Tbilisi Architecture Biennial, Dostroyka/ Completion - Digital platform, online, 2020
Nerd Nite - Discussion Panels, Warsaw, 2019-2020
Non-architecture Competitions, We’ve - Mobile app concept, online, 2019
Het HEM, Roots and Wings - Exhibition, Amsterdam, 2021
When Site Lost the Plot Art Gallery, Markig the Site - Artist residency, Amsterdam, 2021
Tbilisi Architecture Biennial, Dostroyka/ Completion - Digital platform, online, 2020
Nerd Nite - Discussion Panels, Warsaw, 2019-2020
Non-architecture Competitions, We’ve - Mobile app concept, online, 2019
PUBLICATIONS
Slanted Magazine #40 — Experimental Type, 2022
What Do We Have in Common?, 2022
Dostroyka/ completion, 2020
Rzut Architectural Quarterly #17 - Ulica, 2017, #25 - Zabawa, 2020
What Do We Have in Common?, 2022
Dostroyka/ completion, 2020
Rzut Architectural Quarterly #17 - Ulica, 2017, #25 - Zabawa, 2020
EXHIBITIONS
Upcoming:
DESA Unicum: Glass Auction, Warsaw, 2023 (auction)
BRDA Foundation x DESA Unicum, Warsaw, 2023 (charity auction)
Glitch Lab: Riot Vases, Warsaw, 2023 (group)
Baltic Contemporary Art Gallery, Ustka, 2024 (solo)
Spectra Art Space, Warsaw, 2024 (group)
DESA Unicum: Glass Auction, Warsaw, 2023 (auction)
BRDA Foundation x DESA Unicum, Warsaw, 2023 (charity auction)
Glitch Lab: Riot Vases, Warsaw, 2023 (group)
Baltic Contemporary Art Gallery, Ustka, 2024 (solo)
Spectra Art Space, Warsaw, 2024 (group)
Past:
Nilufar Gallery: Notturna, a Night at Depot, Milan, 2023 (event)
GLUE: Connected by design, Amsterdam, 2023 (group)
Museum of Warsaw: Zgruzowstanie Warszawy 1945-1949, Warsaw, 2023 (group)
OBJECT, HAKA Building, Rotterdam (NL), 2023 (group)
Sandberg Instituut Graduation Show: Holding pattern, Oude Rechtbank, Amsterdam, 2022 (group)
Het Nieuwe Instituut: Capture/ Display, Rotterdam, 2021 (group)
Meanwhile: Overschiestraat 188, Amsterdam, 2021 (group)
Tbilisi Architecture Biennial: “What do we have in common?”, online, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kyiv, Dnipro, 2020 (group)
Nilufar Gallery: Notturna, a Night at Depot, Milan, 2023 (event)
GLUE: Connected by design, Amsterdam, 2023 (group)
Museum of Warsaw: Zgruzowstanie Warszawy 1945-1949, Warsaw, 2023 (group)
OBJECT, HAKA Building, Rotterdam (NL), 2023 (group)
Sandberg Instituut Graduation Show: Holding pattern, Oude Rechtbank, Amsterdam, 2022 (group)
Het Nieuwe Instituut: Capture/ Display, Rotterdam, 2021 (group)
Meanwhile: Overschiestraat 188, Amsterdam, 2021 (group)
Tbilisi Architecture Biennial: “What do we have in common?”, online, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kyiv, Dnipro, 2020 (group)
ASSIGNMENTS
Private investor - floor mosaic (2023)
Museum of Warsaw - Series of illustrations (2023)
Traffic Design Assotiaton - Skate-able Sculptures (2022)
The Odder Side - floor mosaic (2022)
Copernicus Science Centre - Przemiany Festival Scenography (2022)
National Museum: Sections. Gallery of Polish architecture, Cracow - Architectural Maquets (2021)
CENTRALA Group - Drifting Architecture executive design (2020)
CENTRALA Group - Architektura&Biznes cover illustration (2019)
National Institute of Architecture and Urban Planning: Identity. 100 years of Polish Architecture Exhibition, Cracow, Warsaw, Lublin, Poznan, Katowice - Architectural Maquets and Illustrations (2017)
Museum of Warsaw - Series of illustrations (2023)
Traffic Design Assotiaton - Skate-able Sculptures (2022)
The Odder Side - floor mosaic (2022)
Copernicus Science Centre - Przemiany Festival Scenography (2022)
National Museum: Sections. Gallery of Polish architecture, Cracow - Architectural Maquets (2021)
CENTRALA Group - Drifting Architecture executive design (2020)
CENTRALA Group - Architektura&Biznes cover illustration (2019)
National Institute of Architecture and Urban Planning: Identity. 100 years of Polish Architecture Exhibition, Cracow, Warsaw, Lublin, Poznan, Katowice - Architectural Maquets and Illustrations (2017)
SUBSIDIES
Adam Mickiewicz Institute: Polish Culture Abroad, 2020
Adam Mickiewicz Institute: Polish Culture Abroad, 2023
PPO: Werktuig voor Ontwikkeling 2023
Adam Mickiewicz Institute: Polish Culture Abroad, 2023
PPO: Werktuig voor Ontwikkeling 2023